Monday 19 March 2012

Breakthrough in Tick control on the horizon?

Judging by recent articles in America, a warm welcome is being given to Tick-Ex (or the F52 strain of the Metarhizium anisopliae fungus, if you want to be technical).  Tick-Ex uses no synthetic chemicals, relying instead on a strain of fungus that occurs naturally in soil.  Trials have reduced the numbers of ticks by 74%.  If field trials are successful this year, the product could be available (in the US?) in 2014.

If this research provides a lead to a treatment that will reduce ticks by this amount, it will give the Tick Bite Prevention Week (26 March - 1 April) a good boost.

See the articles that have covered this development:

Newstimes.com: 
Fungus kills Lyme disease-carrying ticks
The Maine Public Broadcasting Network:
Tick-Attacking Fungus Shows Promise in Battle Against Lyme Disease
AnnArbor.com
Scientists discover new, safe way to control tick populations

Does anyone know anymore about the development or application of Tick-Ex?  If so, please use the comment facility below, to share your knowledge.
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1 comment:

  1. AnonymousMonday, 19 March, 2012

    Fascinating but...

    The US EPA says "As... M. anisopliae F52 use sites are limited to outdoor residential premises, nurseries, greenhouses, and institutional lawns, no endangered/threatened species listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are expected to be affected."

    The fungus seems quite infectious on beetle larvae which might alter the moorland ecosystem somewhat!

    ReplyDelete

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