Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Legs: Legs are similar to those of male in characters of coxal spurs, femoral
setae, claws, and pulvilli.
Nymph (
Figures 2.80 and 2.81
)
140
This stage differs greatly from adults in that the palpi are very widely salient baso-
laterally (a dorsobasal spur is lacking on segment III). Total length is approxi-
mately 1.24 mm, width 0.71 mm.
Capitulum: Basis capituli are almost 3 times as wide as long; cornua are small
and pointed (or obsolete). Palpi are with wide basolateral salience. Hypostome is
longer than palpi, lateral margins straight; dental formula is 2/2, with denticles in
files of seven to nine on anterior two-thirds of shaft.
Scutum: Scutum is with length-width ratio equal, widest at the level of anterior
fourth of scutal length. Cervical grooves are deep, narrow, parallel anteriorly, and
shallow, wider, diverging posteriorly. Punctations number approximately six.
Legs: Legs are moderately stout. Coxa I has a moderate, triangular spur; II and
III are each with a very short, widely triangular spur hardly if at all overlapping
basal margin of coxa; IV is with spur obsolete or with a very small spur at inner
margin basally.
Larva (
Figures 2.80 and 2.81
)
140
Mean length is approximately 0.7 mm, width 0.4 mm.
Capitulum: Basis capituli are quite similar to that of nymph; a pair of posthy-
postomal bristles is present. Palpi are with segment I similar to that of adults but
lacking setae. Hypostome is slightly longer than palpi; approximately 2
1
2
times as
long as wide; lateral margins are slightly convex; dental formula is 2/2, with denti-
cles in files of eight or nine on apical two-thirds of shaft.
Scutum: Scutum is seven-tenths as long as wide. Cervical grooves are shallow.
Punctations number six to eight, some bearing a small seta.
Legs: Coxa I is with a moderately long, triangular spur at inner margin; II is
with a short, more or less widely triangular spur extending slightly beyond basal
margin; III is with a very small (or obsolete) basal spur at inner margin.
Life History of Haemaphysalis kinneari
P.V.M. Mahadev has studied the life history of this species (personal communica-
tion). H. kinneari behaved as three-host tick under natural as well as laboratory
conditions (at 20
22
C and RH 90
100%). In the laboratory, life cycle completes
within a minimum period of 172 days. The unfed adults from laboratory colony
readily feed on rabbit or calf, the feeding period ranges from 7 to 19 days. The
weight of fully fed female in laboratory ranges from 255 to 685 mg on calf and 60
to 563 mg on rabbit. Oviposition commences after 4
11 days of detachment and
reaches the peak in 4
60 days.
Number of eggs laid range from 2,564 to 7,795 (fed on calf). In general, larvae
take 2
8 days with a subsequent decrease up to 45
5 days, nymphs take 3
7 days to feed on white leghorn chickens, and
