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Age and Weight Relationship in Boophilus microplus (Ixodoidea: Ixodidae) Larvae
Author(s) -
VEGA R. DE LA,
DIAZ GRACIELLA
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1996.tb53529.x
Subject(s) - larva , biology , zoology , ixodidae , dry weight , pasture , relative humidity , age groups , ecology , free water , veterinary medicine , demography , botany , environmental science , medicine , geography , sociology , meteorology , environmental engineering
The study of the age of free-living stages of ticks is not a frequent subject in acarology research. Baseline knowledge and some possible applications both in research and in tick control are to be considered. Sixty engorged females were incubated at 28 +/- 1 degrees C and 100% relative humidity. Age zero of larvae was established at 10 days after the beginning of eclosion. Larvae were weighted in paper envelopes in groups ranging from 150 to 400 each. Live weight means (LWM) and dry weight means (DWM) were obtained. All larvae have defecated at age zero. Maximum survival was 57 days. Larval age was also expressed as effective temperature summings (ETS). LWM declines slightly with age. DWM has a linear relationship to age from 0 to 504 degrees C-day with a determination coefficient of 0.95. Absolute water content increases from 0 to 504 degrees C-day; further water content diminishes. Dry matter weight declines just to 504 degrees C-day of age. It might be theoretically possible to estimate the age of larvae in pasture by weighing groups of them.