Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
formula; longer cornua; fewer scutal punctations; longer coxal spurs, more slender
and pointed; longer and narrower tarsi, etc.
Life History
38
The life cycle of this species was studied by Geevarghese et al. in 1973 under ambi-
ent temperature (17
28
C). All the nonparasitic stages were held at 90
100% rel-
ative humidity and room temperature. The maximum longevity of unengorged ticks
was found to be 6 months. Larvae were fed on approximately 2-week-old white leg-
horn chicks and on white-tailed rats (Rattus blanfordi). For feeding, the best results
were obtained when the newly emerged adults were held for a period of about 3
weeks before releasing them on the host. When released on the host, most adults
were attached within 24 h. Copulating pairs were observed between the third day of
release and the last day of engorgement. The females started dropping seventh day
onward and continued up to the tenth day. The first phase lasted until the last but
one day of parasitic phase. During this phase, the rate of increase in size was very
slow. The second phase, which terminated with the dropping, was of a short dura-
tion, not beyond the last night of feeding. This was the period of active engorge-
ment, during which the tick imbibed the bulk of blood meal and attained full
repletion. The average amount of blood imbibed by the tick was approximately 135
times their average unengorged body weight (1.8 mg). The oviposition commenced
7
29 days.
Each tick laid between 1,194 and 3,057 eggs. The number of eggs laid by each indi-
vidual was directly proportional to its fed weight. The spent females died 6
18 days after their detachment from the host and continued for 16
28
days after the completion of oviposition. The loss in the initial weight after the ovi-
position ranged between 58% and 71%. Hatching commenced 47
67 days after the
initiation of oviposition. The process started with the eggs laid on the first day and
ended with those laid on the last day. In a single brood observed, the maximum lon-
gevity of the larvae was 180 days. The time taken for completion of larval engorge-
ment was 4
7 days. As in the case of female, the feeding larvae also showed two
well-defined phases. The larvae stayed on the chicks in the first phase for a mini-
mum period of about 48 h, with 2 days and 2 nights, before passing on to the sec-
ond phase. The larvae, which failed to pass on to the second phase on the third
night, were carried on for the subsequent night for engorgement and the following
day for dropping. This periodicity continued till
the last
larva dropped off.
Engorged larvae molted into nymphs 15
18 days after dropping. The maximum
longevity of the unengorged nymphs was observed to be 103 days. Nymphs, when
released on chicks for feeding, followed a similar pattern of events as larvae.
Engorged nymphs molted into adults 18
25 days after dropping (
Table 2.9
).
Host
141
Immature stages: Mouse deer, wild dog, crested porcupine, cattle, buffalo, hand-
picking in KFD area of Karnataka (India).
Adults: Wild boar, wild dog, crested porcupine, small mammals.
