Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-7drxs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-22T22:27:14.875Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The effect of temperature and humidity on development and longevity of Amblyomma triguttatum triguttatum (Acarina: Ixodidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

A.A. Guglielmone*
Affiliation:
Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, AR
*
A.A. Guglielmone, Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, CC22, CP2300 Rafaela (Santa Fe), AR.

Abstract

The development and longevity of Amblyomma triguttatum triguttatum Koch were studied at temperatures of 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40°C, and humidities with water staturation deficits of 2–3, 8–9 and 16–17 mm Hg. No stage developed at 40°C and the engorged larva was the only stage able to develop at 15°C. The rate of development was inversely related to temperature, with the exception of the pre-oviposition period of the engorged female which was longer at 35°C than at 30°C. The egg was the most vulnerable stage to high saturation deficit (low humidity) but some did survive in constant conditions of 16–17 mm Hg, showing an adaptation to harsh environments; A. t. triguttatum survives in a semi-desert habitat. The longevity of the unfed stages increased from the larvae, nymphs to adults. The longevity decreased with increase of temperature and decrease of humidity with the exception of adults maintained at 30°C and 16–17 mm Hg, which had a longer viability to the same saturation deficit at 20°C (50% mortality) and 25°C (50% and 100% mortality).

Type
Research Paper
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Andrewartha, G. & Birch, L.C. (1954) The distribution and abundance of animals. 782 pp. Chicago, University of Chicago Press.Google Scholar
Buxton, P.A. (1931) The measurement and control of atmospheric humidity in relation to entomological problems. Bulletin of Entomological Research 22, 431447.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Drummond, R.O. & Whetstone, T.M. (1970) Oviposition of the gulf coast tick. Journal of Economic Entomology 63, 15471551.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Feldman-Musham, B. (1947) Resistance of larvae and nymphs of Hyalomma savigny Gerv. to various conditions of temperature and humidity. Parasitology 38, 111115.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Feldman-Musham, B. (1951) On the longevity of fasting ticks, Hyalomma savigny Gerv. Parasitology 41, 6365.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Guglielmone, A.A. (1984) Studies on the biology of Amblyomma triguttatum triguttatum Koch. 245 pp. PhD. thesis, University of Queensland.Google Scholar
Guglielmone, A.A. & Moorhouse, D.E. (1983) Copulation and successful insemination by unfed Amblyomma triguttatum triguttatum Koch. Journal of Parasitology 69, 786787.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Guglielmone, A.A. & Moorhouse, D.E. (1985) Differences in nymphs of Amblyomma triguttatum triguttatum Koch moulting to males or females. Acarologia 26, 123129.Google Scholar
Guglielmone, A.A. & Moorhouse, D.E. (1986a) The effect of photoperiod on the development of Amblyomma triguttatum triguttatum (Acari: Ixodidae). Journal of Medical Entomology 23, 274278.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Guglielmone, A.A. & Moorhouse, D.E. (1986b) Reproduction in Amblyomma triguttatum triguttatum. Acarologia 27, 235239.Google Scholar
Heath, A.C.G. (1979) The temperature and humidity preferences of Haemaphysalis longicornis. Ixodes holocyclus and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Ixodidae): studies on eggs. International Journal of Parasitology 9, 3339.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Heath, A.C.G. (1981) The temperature and humidity preferences of Haemaphysalis longicornis, Ixodes holocyclus and Rhipicephalus sanguineus: studies on engorged larvae. International Journal of Parasitology 11, 169175.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hitchcock, L.F. (1955) Studies on the non-parasitic stages of the cattle tick, Boophilus microplus (Canestrini) (Acarina: Ixodidae). Australian Journal of Zoology 3, 295311.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hussein, S.H. & Mustafa, B.E. (1987) Temperature and humidity on the life cycle of Haemaphysalis spinulosa and Rhipicephalus simus (Acari: Ixodidae). Journal of Medical Entomology 24, 7781.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Koch, H.G. (1981) Lone star tick: molting of engorged larvae and nymphs and survival of unfed nymphs at different temperatures and humidities. Southwestern Entomologist 6, 240244.Google Scholar
Koch, H.G. (1983) Lone star tick: oviposition, egg hatch, and molting under naturally fluctuating ambient temperatures and humidities in the field. Southwestern Entomologist 8, 15.Google Scholar
Koch, H.G. & Dunn, J.C. (1980) Oviposition, egg hatch and larval survival of lone star tick held at different temperatures and humidities. Southwestern Entomologist 5, 169179.Google Scholar
Londt, J.H.G. & Whitehead, G.B. (1972) Ecological studies of larval ticks in South Africa (Acarina: Ixodidae). Parasitology 65, 469490.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Moorhouse, D.E. (1981) Ticks of medical importance, pp. 6369in Pearn, J. (Ed.) Animal toxins and man. Brisbane, Queensland Health Department.Google Scholar
Norval, R.A.I. (1977) Studies on the ecology of the tick Amblyomma hebraeum Koch in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. II. Survival and development. Journal of Parasitology 63, 740747.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pope, J.H., Scott, W. & Dwyer, R. (1960) Coxiella burnetti in kangaroos and kangaroo ticks in Western Queensland. Australian Journal of Experimental Biology 38, 1728.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roberts, F.H.S. (1962) On the status of morphological divergent tick populations of Amblyomma triguttatum Koch (Acarina: Ixodidae). Australian Journal of Zoology 10, 367381.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roberts, F.H.S. (1970) Australian ticks. 267 pp. Melbourne, CSIRO.Google Scholar
Snedecor, G.W. & Cochran, W.G. (1967) Statistical methods. 6th edn.593 pp. Ames, Iowa University Press.Google Scholar
Solomon, M.E. (1952) Control of humidity with potassium hydroxide, sulphuric acid, or other solutions. Bulletin of Entomological Research 42, 543554.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sonenshine, D.E. & Tigner, J.A. (1969) Oviposition and hatching in two species of ticks in relation to moisture deficit. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 62, 628640.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sweatman, G.K. (1967) Physical and biological factors affecting the longevity and oviposition of engorged Rhipicephalus sanguineus female ticks. Journal of Parasitology 53, 432445.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tukahirwa, E.M. (1976) The effects of temperature and relative humidity on the development of Rhipicephalus sanguineus Neumann (Acarina: Ixodidae). Bulletin of Entomological Research 66, 301312.CrossRefGoogle Scholar