Life cycle of the tick Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi neumann (acarina: ixodidae) under laboratory conditions.
The preoviposition period of the tick Rhipicephalus evertsi Neumann maintained under laboratory conditions at 26 C was 6.1 +/- 0.38 days. The average number of eggs produced during the oviposition period was 10,400 +/- 397 (max. 13.307, min. 7,558). The greatest daily egg production was recorded on the 3rd day (1.107 eggs/female). The incubation period of eggs at 26 C was 24.8 +/- 1.37 and the feeding time of the larvae and nymphs (a two-host tick) was 17.2 +/- 0.14 days at 26 C. This tick represents the two-host type of cycle and the percentage of larvae, pharate nymphs, and nymphs on the host at various intervals after attachment was recorded. The changes in the weight of the immature stages during the feeding period was examined daily. Nymphs which produce males were lighter in weight (10.3 +/- 0.28 mg), than those which produce females (15.6 +/- 0.33) and males emerge (13.7 +/- 0.10 days of premolting period) before females (14.1 +/- 0.11 days).