The influence of temperature and humidity on oviposition and hatchability of Amblyomma lepidum (Dönitz, 1808) (Acarina: Ixodidae) under laboratory conditions.

ABSTRACT

The effect of temperature and humidity on the oviposition and hatchability of Ablyomma lepidum was studied. Above 90% of adult ticks applied on calves succeeded to attach and feed through 6-13 days. The development process was studied under three levels of temperature 27, 35 and 40 degrees C, each level with five sets of humidity. Temperature rather than humidity affected all developmental parameters. It was found that high temperature of 40 degrees C, even at high humidity 75.5-97.8% significantly affected pre-oviposition, oviposition, pre-hatching periods, egg mass weight and egg conversion ratio (phumidity on the pre-hatching period and hatchability was highly significant (poviposition and hatching periods (ptemperature and humidity. However, humidity above 90% and temperature range of 27-35 degrees C seem to be the optimum requirements for ideal development of A. lepidum.