Abstract
Adult Hyalomma truncatum ticks with uncovered and foil-covered eyes were exposed to an upright-positioned rectangle as a target giving a luminance contrast ratio of 5:1 at a sun-simulating radiation. The transmission rate of the foil was less than 0.003%. Significantly (p≤0.05) more locomotorally active ticks with uncovered eyes (36.6%) responded to the target than ticks with foil-covered eyes (7.3%). When the rectangle was illuminated by monochromatic light at wavelengths ranging between 420 and 648 nm, the target induced a positive scototaxis in ticks with uncovered eyes regardless of the wavelength range. In contrast, ticks with covered eyes did not exhibita positive scototaxis at wavelength ranges of 553–585 and 608–648 nm and very few ticks responded only to other wavelength ranges. The results indicate that the eyes are the only or at least the most essential sense organs in the visual system of adult H. truncatum ticks.
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Bergermann, S., Gothe, R. On the visual perception of the eyes in adult Hyalomma truncatum ticks (Acari: Ixodidae). Exp Appl Acarol 21, 307–315 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018459324370
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018459324370