@article{mitchell_zhu_carr_dhammi_cave_sonenshine_roe_2017, title={Infrared light detection by the hailer's organ of adult american dog ticks, Dermacentor variabilis (Ixodida: Ixodidae)}, volume={8}, ISSN={["1877-9603"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.ttbdis.2017.06.001}, abstractNote={The Haller's organ (HO), unique to ticks and mites, is found only on the first tarsus of the front pair of legs. The organ has an unusual morphology consisting of an anterior pit (AP) with protruding sensilla and a posterior capsule (Cp). The current thinking is that the HO's main function is chemosensation analogous to the insect antennae, but the functionality of its atypical structure (exclusive to the Acari) is unexplained. We provide the first evidence that the HO allows the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis, to respond to infrared (IR) light. Unfed D. variabilis adults with their HOs present were positively phototactic to IR. However, when the HOs were removed, no IR response was detected. Ticks in these experiments were also attracted to white light with and without the HOs, but were only positively phototactic to white light when the ocelli (primitive eyes) were unobstructed. Covering the eyes did not prevent IR attraction. A putative TRPA1 receptor was characterized from a D. variabilis-specific HO transcriptome we constructed. This receptor was homologous to transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily A, member 1 (TRPA1) from the pit organ of the pit viper, python, and boa families of snakes, the only receptor identified so far for IR detection. HO scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies in the American dog tick showed the AP and Cp but also novel structures not previously described; the potential role of these structures in IR detection is discussed. The ability of ticks to use IR for host finding is consistent with their obligatory hematophagy and has practical applications in tick trapping and the development of new repellents.}, number={5}, journal={TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES}, author={Mitchell, Robert D., III and Zhu, Jiwei and Carr, Ann L. and Dhammi, Anirudh and Cave, Grayson and Sonenshine, Daniel E. and Roe, R. Michael}, year={2017}, pages={764–771} }
 @article{terrapon_li_robertson_ji_meng_booth_chen_childers_glastad_gokhale_et al._2014, title={Molecular traces of alternative social organization in a termite genome}, volume={5}, journal={Nature Communications}, author={Terrapon, N. and Li, C. and Robertson, H. M. and Ji, L. and Meng, X. H. and Booth, W. and Chen, Z. S. and Childers, C. P. and Glastad, K. M. and Gokhale, K. and et al.}, year={2014} }
 @article{bissinger_zhu_apperson_sonenshine_watson_roe_2009, title={Comparative Efficacy of BioUD to Other Commercially Available Arthropod Repellents against the Ticks Amblyomma americanum and Dermacentor variabilis on Cotton Cloth}, volume={81}, ISSN={["1476-1645"]}, DOI={10.4269/ajtmh.2009.09-0114}, abstractNote={BioUD is an arthropod repellent that contains the active ingredient 2-undecanone originally derived from wild tomato plants. Repellency of BioUD was compared with five commercially available arthropod repellents against the ticks Amblyomma americanum (L.) and Dermacentor variabilis Say in two-choice bioassays on treated versus untreated cotton cheesecloth. Overall mean percentage repellency against both species was greatest for and did not differ significantly between BioUD (7.75% 2-undecanone) and products containing 98.1% DEET, 19.6% IR3535, and 30% oil of lemon eucalyptus. Products containing 5% and 15% Picaridin and 0.5% permethrin were also repellent compared with untreated controls but to a lesser degree than BioUD. The four most active repellents at the same concentrations used before were directly compared in head-to-head bioassays on cotton cheesecloth. BioUD provided significantly greater overall mean percentage repellency than IR3535 for A. americanum and D. variabilis. BioUD was significantly more repellent than oil of lemon eucalyptus for A. americanum but did not differ significantly in repellency against D. variabilis. No statistically significant difference in overall mean percentage repellency was found between BioUD and DEET for A. americanum or D. variabilis. In a 7-week time course bioassay, BioUD applied to cotton cheesecloth and held at room temperature provided 5 weeks of > 90% repellency against A. americanum.}, number={4}, journal={AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE}, author={Bissinger, Brooke W. and Zhu, Jiwei and Apperson, Charles S. and Sonenshine, Daniel E. and Watson, D. Wesley and Roe, R. Michael}, year={2009}, month={Oct}, pages={685–690} }