Differentiation between three species of Amblyomma ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) by analysis of cuticular hydrocarbons

Cuticular lipids were extracted from three species of Amblyomma ticks in hexane: dichloromethane and analysed by gas-liquid chromatography using both packed and capillary columns. Unlike many of the reported insect hydrocarbons, those of the Amblyomma ticks consisted mostly of branched paraffins and olefins and all three species of ticks are well differentiated on the basis of numbers and carbon-chain lengths of the hydrocarbons. Amblyomma maculatum has more olefins and A. cajennense has more paraffins than the other species, including A. americanum.