Species diversity, seasonal phenology of ticks (Acarina) in Southeast Kansas, and rates of infection by selected pathogenic Rickettsia

The results of weekly trapping for ticks in Southeast Kansas are reported. Ten trapping stations baited with CO₂ attractants were placed in grassy sites around residences and ten more traps were placed in adjacent forested sites at each of three locations. Diversity and relative abundance of species, proportions of life stages, and seasonal population changes are reported for ticks. Subsamples of the ticks collected were screened for the presence of several rickettsial pathogens using PCR primers to determine infection rates of each tick species.