BIOLOGY 



Life Cycle 



Nuttall's (1913B) and Nuttall and Warburton»s (1915) summary 

 of Nuttall »s and of Lounsbury's (1901,1902A.,190AA) observations 

 on rearing H. leachii (roost likely H. 1. leachii ) are essentially 

 as follows:" This tick requires three hosts upon which to feed 

 during its larval, nymphal, and adult stages. About a week after 

 molting each stage readily attaches to the host, which under 

 experimental conditions may be a number of different anTmaTs, 

 jackal, dog, ferret, hedgehog, goat, or rabbit.- It appears to 

 be immaterial upon which of these hosts the ticks feed. Larvae 

 and nymphs feed for three to seven days (two to three days: 

 Lounsbury), occasionally longer. Females attach for eight to 

 sixteen days. Males may remain upon the host for many weeks. 

 Air temperature , within the limits observed (9°C . to 23°C . ) , 

 appeeirs to exert little or no influence upon the time ticks re- 

 main upon the host, "the warmth from the animal being doubtless 

 sufficient to keep the ticks active" . 



The time required for metamorphosis is influenced by temper- 

 ature. Larvae hatch after 26 to 37 days at 20°C. or after 58 to 

 eighty days at 12°G . to 13°C . Nymphs emerge , as a rule , after 

 thirty to forty days. Adults emerge after fifteen or sixteen 

 days at 21^0, . to 26°G . , but require up to seventy days at L^°C . 



The unfed tick survives for long periods \mder favorable 

 conditions. In small corked bottles maintained at about 12°C . , 

 laoTvae are still active after 169 days, nymphs after 52 days, 

 and adults after about 210 days. 



Males and females placed simultaneously upon the host scatter 

 but in two or three days both sexes are found attached in close 

 proximity to each other. Gopulation occiirs upon the host (HH 

 observation). Lounsbury saw marked males detach and reattach 

 close to females. A male may mate with more than one female. 



After a replete female abandons the host, the interval before 

 egglaying commences is markedly influenced by temperature. Fe- 

 males held at 23°C. begin oviposition after three to five days; 

 at 16°G. to 21°G. after fovirteen to eighteen days; at lower tem- 



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