Life Cycle of Rhipicephalus oculatus (Acari: Ixodidae) in the Laboratory

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
At 26 ± 1°C and 80 ± 5% relative humidity, the preoviposition period of Rhipicephalus oculatus was 6.0 days and the oviposition period was 27 days, during which about 6,000 eggs were laid. The incubation period was 26.8 days, and the larvae fed for 6.6 days and molted after a further 8.0 days; the nymphs fed for 8.3 days and molted after a further 14.6 days. The females fed for 7.2 days, gaining some 400 mg in weight and began to pair 6 days after attachment to the host. Spermatogenesis was completed also on day 6, but endospermatophores were seen only on day 7 after feeding commenced.