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The effect of size on feeding and breeding performance of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus Neumann

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

J. W. Chiera
Affiliation:
The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya
R. M. Newson
Affiliation:
The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya
M. P. Cunningham
Affiliation:
The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya
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Abstract

A positive mean correlation was observed between engorged larval weight and unfed nymphal weight. Similarly, positive linear correlations were observed between engorged nymphal weight and unfed adult weight, between unfed female weight and engorged female weight and between engorged female weight and egg batch weight. Positive linear correlations were also observed between scutal length and weight of unfed adult ticks and between the duration of survival and unfed weight of adult ticks at both 43 and 85% r.h. and 28°C. At 43% r.h. and 28°C, small ticks lost water faster than larger ones. At 96% r.h. and 28°C the small ticks also gained water faster than larger ones. For the sizes tested, all the male ticks were comparable in their ability to fertilize normal females, but the smallest females were incapable of reproduction.

Résumé

Une corrélation moyenne positive a été observée entre le poids larvaire engorgé et le poids de nymphe non alimenté. De la même façon, des corrélations linéaires positivies étaient observées entre le poids du nymphe engorgé et le poids de l'adulte non alimenté; entre le poids de la femelle non alimenté et le poids de la femelle engorgée et entre le poids de femelle engorgée et le poids d'oeufs produits. Des corrélations linéaires positives étaient aussi observées entre la longueur de la carapace et le poinds des tiques adultes non alimentées ainsi que entre la periode de survie et le poids des tiques adultes a 28°C et une humidité relative de 43 et 85%. A 28°C et une humidité relative de 43%, les petites tiques perdaient de l'eau plus vite que les grandes. A 28°C et une humidité relative de 96%, les petites tiques absorbaient de l'eau plus vite que les grandes. Pour toutes les tailles examinées, tous les mâles étaient comparables dans leur capacité de fertilizer les femelles normales, mais les femelles les plus petites étaient incapables de reproduction.

Type
Research Articles
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1985

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References

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