Biology of Dermacentor silvarum (Acari: Ixodidae) under laboratory conditions

The minimum life cycle of Dermacentor silvarum Olenev had a mean duration of 87.5 days (range 74-102 days) under laboratory conditions [(27 +/- 1 degrees C), 70% RH, 6 L: 18 D]. The mean time in (days) for the different stages of its cycle was as follows: incubation period of eggs was 15.3 days; prefeeding, feeding and premoulting periods of larvae and nymphs averaged 5.5, 4.0 and 7.3 days, and 5.2, 5.0 and 14.6 days, respectively; prefeeding, feeding, preoviposition and oviposition periods of female adults lasted for 7.8, 4.5, 4.3 and 14.0 days, respectively. There existed a highly significant correlation between engorged body weight of females and egg masses laid (r = 0.9877, p<0.001). The reproductive efficiency index (REI) and reproductive fitness index (RFI) in females were 11.09 and 9.58, respectively. No relationship between nymphal engorged body weight and resultant sexes was observed. Delayed feeding and non-oviposition (in June and July) existed in females, and low temperature (-10 degrees C) treatment for 45 days could terminate oviposition diapause. However, the egg masses laid by post-diapause females were significantly smaller than those laid by females engorged in March, April and May.