Abstract The results of studies on the biodiversity and ecology of armored ticks living in the southwest of the Kopetdag are presented. In the soil, litter under trees and shrubs, as well as in anthills and rodent burrows, 41 species of shell ticks were found, including 3 species new to the fauna of Turkmenistan. The significance of these ticks in the decomposition of plant residues and in soil-forming processes is shown. In the mountains armored ticks are in a state of active life from the second half of March to the end of November. It has been established that from mid-May to October their abundance in sierozem soils reaches a peak of 25–30 ind./dm3. The lowest numbers of shell ticks were noted in June: 2–7 ind./dm3, which is explained by the lack of moisture and food resources in the soil. Observations have revealed the optimal values for the development of ticks for moisture content of 5–25 and soil temperature from +3 to +25°C. The centers of the reproduction of shell ticks in anthills were revealed for the first time. Two ecological groups of myrmecophilous ticks have been identified: detritus phages and zoonecrophages. Fourteen species of the ticks are classified as myrmecophilic detritus-phages, they are found in the nests of ants that feed on the seeds of herbaceous plants. The mirmecophilous zoosnecrophages included six species found in nests of ants that feed on insect corpses. Data on the presence of shell ticks in rodent burrows have been considered. The identified nidicolous species of shell ticks are considered as a result of their adaptation to arid habitat conditions.
展开▼
