Molly June Bechtel

Molly June Bechtel

Flagstaff, AZ

Northern Arizona University

Graduate Research Assistant

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Published on Dec 03, 2018

Thank you!!

Hi Everybody! Sorry for the lack of updates recently. I've been busy preparing for the spring field season as well as purchasing lab supplies so I can analyze ticks this winter - all thanks to you...

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Published on Sep 10, 2018

Did you know the Western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis) has a borreliacidal effect on ticks carrying the causative agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi? This means that an enzyme in lizard blood kills the Borrelia pathogen carried...

Did you know the Western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis) has a borreliacidal effect on ticks carrying the causative agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi? This means that an enzyme in ...

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Published on Sep 03, 2018

Some Very Preliminary Data

So far, we have identified 223 Ornithodoros ticks found on desert tortoises to species and life stage (Table 1). Ticks have three life stages: larvae, nymph and adult. Only adults can be identified...

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Published on Aug 27, 2018

Tick ID!

Ornithodoros ticks are identified by the bumps on their backs known as mamillae. In order to tell the difference between an Ornithodoros parkeri or Ornithodoros turicata (two species commonly found...

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Published on Aug 24, 2018

Collecting Ticks

Collecting ticks in desert tortoise habitat can be a challenge! Regardless of the heat and incessant biting gnats that flourish during the rainy season, these ticks are challenging to find because ...

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There certainly aren't pretty, are they?