The Gulf Coast tick is a common parasite of 

 livestock along the Gulf Coast but has seldom 

 been a problem at distances greater than 100 

 miles inland. However, when infestations were 

 detected in Mayes County, Okla., in 1963 an 

 effort was made to determine if the tick had 



become established. Collections of A. macu- 

 latum were made by Veterinary Services person- 

 nel from the same farm in Mayes County in 

 1963, 1967, 1968, and 1971. By 1968 it was 

 apparent that this tick was established in 

 Wagoner, Rogers, Craig, and Mayes Counties. 



CHANGES IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF TICKS 



The establishment of A. maculatum in 

 northeastern Oklahoma is another instance in 

 which a species of tick thought to be confined 

 to a limited geographical area was able to make 

 adaptations for survival and propagation in a 

 geographical area quite different from where it 

 originated. A second example is the brown dog 

 tick {Rhipicephalus sanguineus) which was origi- 

 nally a tropical species but is now commonly 

 found in the northern States. Although the 

 brown dog tick is unable to survive the winter 

 outdoors in the northern States, it has adapted 

 very well to survival in centrally heated houses 

 and kennels. It can become a serious pest of 

 dogs and cause real concern to the owner. The 



spinose ear tick (Otobius megnini) is a third 

 species which has extended its geographical 

 distribution. Originally a native of the south- 

 western United States and Mexico, it is now 

 established in South America, Africa, India and 

 Madagascar. It was carried to these distant areas 

 in tlie ears of the livestock hosts. Until recently, 

 the spinose ear tick was thought to be estab- 

 lished in the United States only in the dry, arid, 

 southwestern States. Records now confirm that 

 the tick is a problem in several northwestern 

 States as well as British Columbia. It is also 

 known to be established in at least one county 

 in eastern Tennessee. 



THE VIRGIN ISLANDS TICK ERADICATION PROGRAM 



The livestock owners of St. Croix, U.S. 

 Virgin Islands, have maintained an interest in a 

 Boophilus microplus eradication program since 

 the early 1960's. Studies were begun in 1962 to 

 determine the role the white-tailed deer 

 (Odocoileus virginianus) plays as a potential host 

 for B. microplus. These efforts were expanded 

 from 1964 to 1967 with studies by the South- 

 eastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study. 



Final eradication plans were formulated in 

 1970, and supervisory personnel and equipment 

 arrived on St. Croix in 1971. Construction of 

 necessary facilities was completed in 1971. 

 Dipping commenced on the eastern end of the 

 island in January 1972. Unfortunately the dip- 

 ping operation had to be suspended in March 

 1972 when it became apparent that efforts to 

 control movement of livestock and green forage 

 from other areas of the island were ineffective. 



