Factors Influencing the Potential Establishment of the Winter Tick (Dermacentor albipictus) in Alaska

The winter tick (Dermacentor albipictus) is not known to occur in Alaska. Survival and development of free-living (i.e., non-host-associated) stages of the tick were studied at three sites in central and southern Alaska. Female ticks survived, oviposited, and eggs hatched at all sites. Hatch success was low at one site where summer temperatures were low. Results suggest that establishment of winter ticks in Alaska following accidental translocation is possible, but several factors would affect such establishment.