DEVELOPMENT PERIODS OF RHIPICEPHALUS-APPENDICULATUS NEUMANN (ACARINA, IXODIDAE) UNDER FIELD CONDITIONS

Batches of engorged R. appendiculatus ticks (females, nymphs and larvae) were placed in gauze-covered vials in the field at monthly intervals and left to complete development. The ticks were placed in open areas and tree shaded areas, the latter being consistently cooler. The duration of development varied seasonally and was inversely related to environmental temperature. The mean time to oviposition ranged from 5 days during the hot dry season-25 days during the cool dry season. There was a high larval mortality during the larval to nymphal molt. The available data shows that mean time to larval-nymphal molt ranged from less than 2 wk during the hot dry season-7 wk in the cool season. The mean time to nymphal-adult molt ranged from less than 3 wk in the hot season-over 13 wk in the cool dry season. Egg hatching ranged between 3 wk in the hot dry season and 15 wk in the cool dry season.