Cytogenetics of Ticks (Acari: Ixodoidea). 5. Comparative Survival of Three Species of Dermacentor (Ixodidae) Following Etherization1

Abstract
Dermacentor variabilis (Say) larvae, nymphs, and adults (♂♂, ♀♀) and adult ♂ and ♀ D. andersoni Stiles and D. occidentalis Marx were exposed for 5 different periods (2 to 10 minutes) to ether (Squibb & Sons, Anesthesia, U. S. P.). Narcosis resulted and survival of unfed and engorged nymphs and unfed adults was 100%; ecdysis of engorged nymphs appeared normal. Larvae showed detrimental effects; when engorged and exposed for 4 minutes, only 2 % survived. There was a positive correlation between length of treatment (exposure to ether) and length of narcosis in all groups, and engorged specimens appeared more sensitive to treatment than unfed ones. Moreover, old individuals (13 months) required more time to recover from exposure to ether than did younger ones (20 days). Several possible explanations of the results reported are discussed.

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