Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Life History 88
Dhanda and Ilkal reported the life history in 1981 at ambient temperature ranging
from 22.7 to 32.2 C and at relative humidity from 80% to 90%. The entire life
cycle took between 85 and 142 days. Most of the adults released on the host (chick)
attached within 24 h. Ticks commenced feeding from the third day of their release.
Copulating pairs were found during feeding. The females completed engorgement
7
9 days after release. Two distinct phases, viz., “preparatory” and “repletion,”
were observed at the time of feeding. The average amount of blood taken by a
female was approximately 80 times its average unfed weight (0.77 mg). The weight
of fully repleted female ranged from 39.0 to 91.7 mg. Oviposition commenced 3
5
days after detachment of the fed female, and lasted between 10 and 19 days. The
female laid 263
884 eggs. The number of eggs laid was maximum on the third or
the fourth day after commencement of oviposition, declined gradually subse-
quently. The number of eggs laid by the fed females was directly proportional to
their body weight. The correlation coefficient was r 5
0.93. The number of eggs
laid per milligram increase in body weight of fed female was 12.00. The average
weight of an egg ranged from 0.0408 to 0.0511 mg. The incubation period of eggs
ranged between 20 and 40 days. The sequence of hatching of the eggs was the
same as the sequence of laying, i.e., those laid early hatched first and those laid
subsequently hatched later. The minimum pre-feeding period for the larvae was
4 days. The maximum number of the fed larvae was recovered with 10-day-old lar-
vae. The feeding period ranged from 2 to 4 days. It took 7
12 days for the
engorged larvae to molt into nymphs after dropping. The nymphs were ready to
feed within a few hours of emergence. After release, the nymphs remained attached
for 3
7 days to complete the blood meal. The time taken for the emergence of
adults from the fed nymphs was 8
11 days ( Table 2.8 ).
Studies carried out by Bhat et al. in 1986 have shown that the goats are the
main host of this species in KFD area.
Table 2.8 Duration of Various Events in the Life Cycle of H. intermedia
Events
Duration (in days)
Host
Female feeding
7 9
Rabbits
Pre-oviposition
3 5
Oviposition
10 19
Egg hatching (from commencement of oviposition)
20 40
Pre-larval feeding (optimum period)
10 15
Larval feeding
2 4
Chickens
Larva nymph molt
7 12
15 20
Pre-nymphal feeding (optimum period)
3 7
Nymphal feeding
Chickens
Nymph adult molt
8 11
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