Area-wide acaricides

• Chemicals like carbaryl, cyfluthrin, fulvalinate, 

permethrin, deltamethrin etc. can give 68-

100% control of nymphal I. scapularis, BUT

• Surveys in CT, MA, NJ, NY show most 

homeowners not willing to use them

• Need other options to offer
Prevention Measures Taken

• Long pants 49.8%

• Cleared Brush 48.6%

• Tick checks 45.7%

• Avoid woods 35.1%

• Pesticide on ground 24.4%

• Fenced property 23.1%

• Tucked pants/sock 18.3%

• Repellents/clothes 14.2%

• Used woodchip/gravel barrier 11.4%

• Vaccine 10.1%

• Pesticide on Rodents 9.0%
ALTERNATIVES TO AREA-WIDE ACARICIDES

• Host Removal

• Host Targeted Treatments (Deer & Rodents)

• Least Toxic (Soaps, Desiccants, Tree Extracts)

• Fungal Agents

• Landscape Management
Insecticidal Constituents from Alaska Yellow Cedar 

(Chamaecyparis nootkatensis)

Formulation of nootkatone for field trials

• Active Ingredient

– Nootkatone 152 g

• Solvent

– d-limonene 75g

• Emulsifier

– EZ-Mulse 75g

• Delivery Rate

– g/m2 a.i. = 0.76 % a.i. = 2%

Field Trial: NWS Earle, NJ

No. nymphal I. scapularis

Days Control Backpack Highpressure

PreTreatment 9.4 7.8 10.8

1 14.2 0 (100%)* 0 (100%)

7 21.6 3.2 (82%) 0.4 (98%)

14 20.2 2.6 (84%) 0.4 (98%)

21 14.8 5.8 (53%) 0 (100%)

28 14.8 4.8 (61%) 0 (100%)

35 9.4 4.6 (41%) 0.2 (98%)

42 6.4 1.2 (77%) 0 (100%)

*% control of nymphs based on Henderson’s equation; 5 grids for each treatment
Summary of results

• Natural products such as nootkatone may have a role 

to play in controlling the vectors of Lyme disease 

spirochetes

• Backpack spray application kills and/or repels ticks 

that are at the surface of the leaf litter but ticks 

deeper in the leaf litter column are not killed and 

begin questing after 1-2 wks

• High pressure spray kills virtually all the nymphs on 

forest plots and provides protection for entire 

nymphal questing season
Multiple applications of nootkatone 

with backpack 

Date post treatment Untreated Treated (% Control)

Pretreatment 15.8* 12.3 NA 

1d 14.2 0 (100%)

7d 17.0 1.2 (91%)

14d** 14.8 2.2 (81%)

21d 16.8 0 (100%)

28d 18.8 0.4 (97%)

35d 12.8 0.4 (96%)

42d 7.4 0.2 (96%)

*Mean # ticks on 5 plots; **reapplication after 2 weeks
ITM Study in NJ:

1. Deltamethrin barrier spray

2. 4-poster acaricides applied to deer

3. Bait box acaricides applied to rodents
Study area in Millstone, NJ
Timeline of ITM Study in NJ

Method Time period # houses

4-poster (deer) Fall 2003 to 

Spring 2006

38

Bait boxes 

(rodents)

Summer 2004 

& 2005

13

Barrier spray May 2004 13
USDA “4-POSTER” DEVICE

CORN BAITED SELF-APPLICATION WITH AMITRAZ

Control of Nymphal Ticks

Preintvnt 

2003

2004 2005 2006

Control 

Area

1.7 2.0 3.4 10.1

Treatment 

area

4.1 2.0 1.1 1.4

% 

Control* 

NA 58.5% 86.6% 94.3%

*Percentage of control calculated by Henderson’s equation
ITM in NJ: Phase II

• Can we continue the level of control achieved 

with 3-pronged approach (barrier spray, 4-

poster, bait boxes) with just one method (4-

poster)?

• Continued 4-poster devices through spring 

2007 (barrier spray just performed in 2004, 

and bait boxes 2004 & 2005) 
ITM: Phase II

Preintrvnt

2003

2004 2005 2006 2007

Control 1.7 2.0 3.4 10.1 5.3

Treatment 4.1 2.0 1.1 1.4 1.8

% 

Control

NA 58.5 86.6 94.3 85.9
Future of ITM

• Area-wide acaricides where permitted

• Host targeted acaricides (deer and rodents)

• Host targeted vaccines

• Natural products

• Biological control agents (fungal or other)

• Must be made practical & economical for wide 

acceptance