Larval survival of Anocentor nitens under simulated natural conditions

Basic knowledge about the survival of free living stages of ticks is of great importance as a practical tool to improve control methods. For Anocentor nitens there is little information on this subject. Eighty-four engorged females were incubated at 30 degrees C and 100% relative humidity. After 17 days, groups of 5,500 eggs each were collected and isolated in vials. Age zero was defined as 10 days after eclosion had begun. At this time vials with larvae were attached to 40 Sorghum halepense plants sowed in clay pots, under outdoor conditions, and separated from one another by 30 cm in order to prevent the larvae from mixing. Four hours later vials were retired and the larvae remaining in the vials were counted. The next day four plants were sampled and this survival considered as 100%. Each week for eight weeks the same sampling procedure was performed. The remaining four plants were used to determine the maximum larval survival (MLS). Four repetitions of the procedure were performed, two in March 1989 and two in September 1989.