The Subgenus Persicargas (Ixodoidea, Argasidae, Argas ). 14. Biological studies on the adult stage of A. (P.) arboreus Kaiser, Hoogstraal & Kohls in Egypt12

Autor: Mahmoud Hafez, Samir S. Guirgis, Albert A. Abdel-Malek
Rok vydání: 1972
Předmět:
Zdroj: Journal of Medical Entomology. 9:19-29
ISSN: 1938-2928
0022-2585
Popis: The life cycle of Argas (Persicargas) arboreus Kaiser, Hoogstraal & Kohls from oviposition through the nymphal molts to the adult stage was investigated at different constant temperature and rh levels and with 6 bird species as hosts (laboratory rabbits were not accepted as hosts). The data point to the need for investigating the more subtle factors operating in nature to restrict the presence of this parasite to a certain group of bird species. The length of developmental periods and of larval and nymphal survival was affected by temperature but the roles of rh and bird host species were nil or nonsignificant. The life cycle required 8 months at 21°C and 8 weeks at 37°C. The thermal constant for egg development (150 degree-days) was less than 1/2 that of A. (P.) persicus (Oken) eggs (316 degree-days). Egg hatch percentage was affected by temperature, rh, and female age, but not by the bird species on which the female had fed. Prefeeding and feeding periods were alike for larvae and nymphs that fed on each bird species except on adult herons, the natural hosts, for which the periods were longer, probably owing to the host's acquired immunity to tickbite. The relative amounts of ingested blood and emitted coxal fluid were almost constant in the different nymphal instars. The number of instars (2 or 3, rarely 4) was related to nymphal weight before and after feeding. Most adults emerged from N3 under all rearing conditions. Female-nymphs ingested more blood and were usually heavier than male-nymphs. The N2 and N3 premolting periods did not differ whether these nymphs molted to subsequent instars or to males or females.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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