Maintenance of Adult and Nymphal Ornithodoros coriaceus (Acari: Argasidae) by Artificial Feeding Through a Parafilm Membrane

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Abstract
Efficiency of a technique for artificially feeding nymphs and adults of the argasid tick, Ornithodoros coriaceus Koch on various substances through a Parafilm membrane is described. Ticks would not probe or feed through the membrane unless it was covered with a thin layer of hair, and guinea pig hair elicited the highest engorgement rate among several types of hair compared. Optimal temperature for feeding ticks was 37–39°C. Excellent engorgement rates (87–90%) were obtained with bovine red blood cells, fetal calf serum, glutathione solution, and a solution composed of 75% minimum essential medium and 25% fetal calf serum. All ticks that fed on these substances secreted coxal fluid and survived for 3+ mo. Several females fed on fetal calf serum laid viable eggs, and most nymphs or adults fed on this substance readily refed within 28 d.