In-vitro trials to evaluate the efficacy of green microparticles for the control of cattle tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus

Ticks are haematophagous ectoparasites that infest all domestic animals and humans. They gain medical and veterinary significance due to the variety of aetiological agents that they can transmit. Acaricides have played a pivotal role in tick control until the surge of resistance to most of the commonly employed acaricides. Alternate tick control strategies have since gained significant attention and semiochemical assisted tick control is one such strategy. Herein, we attempted to employ an eco-friendly strategy to lure and kill ticks. Sustained-release microparticles in the form of porous calcium alginate beads incorporating the attraction sex pheromone, 2,6-DCP, and tulsi oil were prepared, and their efficacy was assessed using petri-dish bioassay. There was 100% mortality of the larvae and partially fed males exposed to these microparticles after 24 hours of exposure.