Interspecific Mating of Amblyomma Hebraeum and Amblyomma Variegatum (Acari: Ixodidae)1

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Abstract
When fed males of Amblyomma hebraeum were confined with unfed females of A. variegatum under sleeves on the backs of rabbits, pairing occurred and the females engorged and produced egg masses. Similar results were obtained with the reciprocal cross. Although interspecific matings occurred, conspecific matings outnumbered them when ticks were given a choice. A species-specific pheromone is speculated as the critical specific recognition factor, but physical recognition factors are not eliminated. After males and females attached to hosts next to heterospecific ticks, they did not move 5 cm even to conspecific potential mates. All egg masses produced from interspecific matings were infertile (<1% hatch). Chromosomal differences between the 2 species are different enough to probably preclude successful hybridization.