[MAIPC] [EXTERNAL] ticks and Japanese stilt grass?

[Landsman, Andrew P]

Richard - see citation below...


Civitello, D. J., Flory, S.L., & Clay, K. (2008). Exotic grass invasion reduces survival of Amblyomma americanum and Dermacentor variabilis ticks (Acari: Ixodidae). Journal of Medical Entomology, 45, 867-872.


Andrew P. Landsman, Ph.D.

Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance (part-time)
United States Department of the Interior

Program Manager - Natural Resources and Compliance
C&O Canal National Historical Park
1850 Dual Highway, Suite 100
Hagerstown, MD  21740

________________________________
From: MAIPC <maipc-bounces at lists.maipc.org> on behalf of Richard Gardner <rtgardner3 at yahoo.com>
Sent: Friday, July 17, 2020 10:35 AM
To: MAIPC Listserve <maipc at lists.maipc.org>; Maryland Invasive Species Council <invasives at listserv.umd.edu>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] [MAIPC] ticks and Japanese stilt grass?




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With covid-19 running rampant we are trying to avoid trails heavily used by other people. Yesterday while exploring a new trail option I was on a lightly used fire break trail in northern Berks County, PA and did some bushwhacking to get to another trail. In the process I went through large areas of Japanese stilt grass. How concerned should I be about ticks in the Japanese stilt grass? Is it like many invasives in that native organisms such as native ticks avoid it? Are there times of day I should be more cautious than others? Are there specific weather conditions I should be more wary of? (It was overcast and cool with a ceiling maybe 50 feet above me.)

I wear knee length hiking skirts* and regular hiking socks without putting chemicals on my legs. So when I got home I took my normal precaution of showering and scrubbing my legs.

(*For anyone willing to go back to an ancient male tradition (pre-Alexander the Great), I have found hiking skirts to be incredibly comfortable and practical for hiking. Most of mine were made by Purple Rain Adventure Skirts even though I have other brands. They make kilts, too.))

                                           Richard Gardner
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