Some Effects of Humidity on the Behavior and Water Balance of Argas Cooleyi (Acarina: Argasidae)1

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Abstract
Swallow ticks, Argas cooleyi, were exposed to a variety of relative humidities at 25°C and periodically weighed to observe patterns of weight change. Hydrated adults exposed to 32.5, 64, 80, 92.5, and 97.5% rh lost weight at rates proportional to the relative humidity (Y = 7.82–0.061(X), PA. cooleyi was estimated to be 78% rh at 25°C. Unfed-dehydrated, unfed-hydrated, and engorged males and females were tested at 25°C at a double gradient of 90-35-90% rh. In general a significant majority of the ticks avoided the humidities above 69%. A reversal of preference between unfed-hydrated and unfed-dehydrated ticks was not observed.

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