Data on flea control using lufenuron and nitenpyram baits with black-tailed prairie dogs, South Dakota, 2021

We collected fleas from a colony of black-tailed prairie dogs on Buffalo Gap National Grassland, South Dakota, 2021. We collected flea data by combing prairie dogs and swabbing their burrows for fleas. Regarding combing, we anesthetized trapped prairie dogs (and their fleas) with isoflurane in induction chambers for processing. We combed each individual with a fine-tooth comb for 30 seconds to remove and count fleas. We released all animals, after they were recovered from anesthesia, at the location where they were captured. Regarding burrow swabbing, we used a plumber’s cable to insert a 20- by 20-centimeter flannel-cloth as deep as possible into burrow tunnels. We then shook the cable for 30 seconds to imitate movement by a host. We removed the cloth from the burrow and counted detected fleas. Total flea counts from individual prairie dogs or burrows were considered an index of flea abundance. Data were collected on four plots treated with lufenuron and nitenpyram "LN-Bit" bait pellets for systemic flea control with prairie dogs. Each LN-Bit contained 75 milligrams lufenuron and 6 milligrams nitenpyram. The LN-Bits were applied at 50 baits/acre on two plots (single treatments) and 100 baits/acre on two plots (two treatments separated by four weeks). The initial treatments were completed on 23 August 2021. The second application (on the latter two plots) was completed on 22 September 2021. Combing flea data were collected 2-21 August 2021 (before treatments) and 27 August–10 September 2021 (after initial treatments). Swabbing flea data were collected 15-17 August 2021 (before treatments) and 15-17 November 2021 (after initial treatments). The first data set (LNBit Combing Data.csv) includes data from captures and combings of individual prairie dogs and lists treatment (TREATMENT = LN50 [50 baits/acre once] or LN100 [100 baits/acre twice]), period of experiment (PERIOD = BEFORE [before treatments] or AFTER [after initial treatments]), and flea abundance (FLEAS). The second data set (LNBit Swabbing Data.csv) includes data from swabbing of individual burrrows and lists treatment (TREATMENT = LN50 [50 baits/acre once] or LN100 [100 baits/acre twice]), period of experiment (PERIOD = BEFORE [before treatments] or AFTER [after initial treatments]), and flea abundance (FLEAS). Funding and logistical support were provided by the US Geological Survey; Prairie Wildlife Research; National Park Service; US Forest Service; and US Fish and Wildlife Service.

2021年，我们于南达科他州布法罗加普国家草原的黑尾土拨鼠群落中采集跳蚤样本。本次研究通过梳取土拨鼠体表及擦拭其洞穴的方式收集跳蚤数据：关于梳取样方法，我们在诱导麻醉舱中用异氟烷（isoflurane）对捕获的土拨鼠及其体表跳蚤实施麻醉以开展后续处理，使用细齿梳对每只个体梳取30秒以收集并计数跳蚤，待土拨鼠从麻醉状态完全恢复后，将其放归原捕获地点。关于洞穴擦拭法，我们使用管道疏通绳将一块20×20厘米的法兰绒布尽可能深入地插入洞穴隧道，随后摇晃绳索30秒以模拟宿主活动，之后将绒布从洞穴中取出并计数其上附着的跳蚤。单只土拨鼠或单个洞穴的跳蚤总数被视为跳蚤丰度的衡量指标。本次实验在4块施用由氟虫脲（lufenuron）与吡虫啉（nitenpyram）复配的“LN-Bit”系统性跳蚤防控毒饵颗粒的样地中开展，该毒饵通过土拨鼠实现系统性跳蚤防控。每颗LN-Bit毒饵含有75毫克氟虫脲与6毫克吡虫啉。其中2块样地以50颗毒饵/英亩的剂量单次施用（单次处理组），另外2块样地以100颗毒饵/英亩的剂量分两次施用（两次处理组，两次处理间隔4周）。首次施药于2021年8月23日完成，第二次施药（针对后两块样地）于2021年9月22日完成。梳取法跳蚤数据的采集时段为2021年8月2日至21日（施药前）以及2021年8月27日至9月10日（首次施药后）；擦拭法跳蚤数据的采集时段为2021年8月15日至17日（施药前）以及2021年11月15日至17日（首次施药后）。第一个数据集（LNBit Combing Data.csv）包含单只土拨鼠的捕获与梳取数据，字段包括处理组别（TREATMENT = LN50 [50颗毒饵/英亩单次施用] 或 LN100 [100颗毒饵/英亩两次施用]）、实验阶段（PERIOD = BEFORE [施药前] 或 AFTER [首次施药后]）以及跳蚤丰度（FLEAS）。第二个数据集（LNBit Swabbing Data.csv）包含单个洞穴的擦拭数据，字段包括处理组别（TREATMENT = LN50 [50颗毒饵/英亩单次施用] 或 LN100 [100颗毒饵/英亩两次施用]）、实验阶段（PERIOD = BEFORE [施药前] 或 AFTER [首次施药后]）以及跳蚤丰度（FLEAS）。本研究的资金与后勤支持由美国地质调查局（US Geological Survey）、草原野生动物研究（Prairie Wildlife Research）、国家公园管理局（National Park Service）、美国林务局（US Forest Service）以及美国鱼类和野生动物管理局（US Fish and Wildlife Service）提供。