OVIPOSITIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND FECUNDITY OF DERMACENTOR ALBIPICTUS (ACARI:IXODIDAE) FROM MOOSE

Abstract

This study documents measures of productivity, under laboratory conditions, of winter ticks (Dermacentor albipictus) from Ontario moose (Alces alces). The data are used to understand variation in productivity of winter ticks in different parts of their range. The data will also be baseline data for estimating the number of larval ticks available to Ontario moose in the wild and to identify variables affecting availability of larval ticks to moose. The mean preoviposition period for engorged female winter ticks that had fed on captive moose was 13.5 and 8.8 days at 20°C and 24°C, respectively. The mean oviposition period for 40 females held at 24°C was 30.8 (15-36) days. maximum mean daily production of eggs  655) occurred on day 5 of the oviposition period. Production and hatching of eggs in a variety of treatments that took into account possible influences of temperature, whether or not the ticks were from a moose with prior exposure to winter ticks, and whether or not the female ticks were disturbed daily during oviposition to collect eggs. Mean numbers of eggs laid/female varied between  these treatment groups (6,263-8,255) and were about 50% higher than previously reported for D. albipictus. Times of development in the laboratory for D. albipictus from moose in Ontario were similar to values for winter ticks from other hosts and areas.