Life Cycle of Dermacentor everestianus Hirst, 1926 (Acari: Ixodidae) under Laboratory Conditions

Abstract

This study investigated the development characteristics of Dermacentor everestianus under laboratory conditions. The time taken for D. everestianus to complete the whole life cycle was 110.2 days on average, and the average developmental durations of larvae and nymphs were 17.1 days and 29.5 days, respectively. The summation of the prefeeding, feeding, and preoviposition periods of females was 17.8 days, and the oviposition and egg incubation lasted for 18.1 days and 27.7 days, respectively. A highly positive correlation was observed between the weight of engorged female and the number of egg mass laid (r=0.947). The reproductive efficiency index and the reproductive fitness index were 7.1 and 6.1, respectively.

Characterization of the life cycle of Dermacentor nuttalli in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau under laboratory conditions and identification of spotted fever group Rickettsia

“…The above studies showed that the average period of one tick life-cycle of females under laboratory conditions was ranged from 110.2 to 179 days, while 121 to 177.8 days under eld conditions [52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59]. However, the average periods showed seasonal differences [52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59]. D. nuttalli was widely distributed in northern China, including the sampling sites in Qinghai Province in this study [5,6,8].…”

“…concinna under eld conditions were characterized in China [52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59]. The above studies showed that the average period of one tick life-cycle of females under laboratory conditions was ranged from 110.2 to 179 days, while 121 to 177.8 days under eld conditions [52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59]. However, the average periods showed seasonal differences [52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59].…”

“…However, the result is contrasting compared with the original ticks, that SFG Rickettsia was detected only in either salivary glands or midgut in males and females with low positive rates. This indicates that the acquisition, maintenance, colonization, and transmission of pathogens in tick salivary glands or midgut [52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59]. Furthermore, the positive rates of SPF Rickettsia in the same generation of ticks showed no signi cant difference in either gender or organ, suggesting that this pathogen may be strongly colonized in both the salivary glands and midgut in males and females.…”