Ixodidae 



255 



REARING SMALL LOTS OF TICKS 



In some respects the rearing procedure and equipment described above, 

 while adequate for the rearing of D. andersoni in large quantities, are 

 not well adapted for the requirements of a small laboratory where a 

 lesser number of ticks is required. 



Small numbers of ticks may be confined in cotton stoppered or muslin 

 capped vials to permit ready observation. In the absence of thermal 



JF~l 



D D 



Fig. 57. — Section of tick feeding girdle for experimental purposes. A, threaded and 

 flanged ring; B, cover; C, long adhesive band for girdle; D, short adhesive band 

 covering toothed flange. 



cabinets ticks may be kept at room temperature in glass vials or card- 

 board pill boxes almost in contact with moist sand. In cases where con- 

 trolled humidity conditions are required the pill boxes or vials may be 

 kept in ordinary desiccating jars containing solutions of salts that will 

 provide the desired relative humidity. 



The tick feeding girdle shown in Figure 50, while simple and useful 

 for routine tick feeding, is not adapted for experimental feeding of small 

 groups of ticks where close observation and easy manipulation of the 

 feeding ticks are 

 desired. Once the 

 adhesive tape is in 

 place its partial 

 removal in order to 

 remove or replace 

 ticks causes skin 

 irritation and any 

 active and un- 

 attached ticks may 

 escape. Therefore, 

 a tin capsule made 

 from the threaded 

 end ring and cover 

 used in cardboard 

 mailing tubes is 

 substituted for the 



brass gauze capsule used in mass feeding. A section diagram is shown 

 in Figure 57. For complete details the reader is referred to Public 

 Health Reports 1933, pp. 1081-82. 



Fig. 58. — Diagram of a cage designed for rearing ticks on 

 small animals. 



