Implementation of a Tick-Killing Robot to Protect Children in Hampton, Virginia

Description/Abstract/Artist Statement

In southeastern Virginia, tick-borne diseases are on the rise. In previous studies, the tick-killing robot, TickBot, has been shown to provide immediate short-term control of tick populations with minimal environmental impact. The goal of our study was to test an integrated tick management system in order to decrease the tick population at NASA Langley's Child Development Center's playground in Hampton, Virginia. The TickBot treated the perimeter of the playground twice a week throughout the summer of 2017. To determine the potential tick encounter risk on the playground ticks were collected from the playground and nearby areas. This information provided us with the efficacy of the TickBot and local tick phenology. Our study results indicate that this integrated tick management system reduced risk of tick encounters on the playground.

Presenting Author Name/s

Amanda DeVleeschower

Faculty Advisor/Mentor

Holly Gaff

Presentation Type

Poster

Disciplines

Entomology | Parasitology

Session Title

Poster Session

Location

Learning Commons @ Perry Library, Northwest Atrium

Start Date

2-3-2018 8:00 AM

End Date

2-3-2018 12:30 PM

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Feb 3rd, 8:00 AM Feb 3rd, 12:30 PM

Implementation of a Tick-Killing Robot to Protect Children in Hampton, Virginia

Learning Commons @ Perry Library, Northwest Atrium

In southeastern Virginia, tick-borne diseases are on the rise. In previous studies, the tick-killing robot, TickBot, has been shown to provide immediate short-term control of tick populations with minimal environmental impact. The goal of our study was to test an integrated tick management system in order to decrease the tick population at NASA Langley's Child Development Center's playground in Hampton, Virginia. The TickBot treated the perimeter of the playground twice a week throughout the summer of 2017. To determine the potential tick encounter risk on the playground ticks were collected from the playground and nearby areas. This information provided us with the efficacy of the TickBot and local tick phenology. Our study results indicate that this integrated tick management system reduced risk of tick encounters on the playground.