333 
N. CUNLIFFE AND Gr. H. F. NUTTALL 
it is considered that more careful feeding would probably have increased both 
the total oviposition period and the number of eggs deposited. Although at 
these temperatures the maximum number of days over which oviposition 
extended after each feed was 48, several cases were noted in which females 
kept at 30° C. produced fertile eggs about 75 days after engorgement. The 
largest number of eggs produced by one female was 535, of which 9T5 per 
cent, were fertile, the tick in this case having been kept at 22° C. It is of 
interest to note that in the incubators, oviposition occurred usually at night, 
which is in conformity with the natural habit of the tick. 
Under laboratory conditions therefore, the influence of the temperature 
factor on oviposition is very marked, a rise of 8° C. (from 22° C.) practically 
doubling the rapidity of egg-production after each meal, but at the same time 
reducing the fertility of the eggs by 30 per cent. A further increase of tem¬ 
perature to 37° C. under these conditions inhibited reproduction almost 
entirely. 
Experiments devised to determine the influence of food on oviposition and 
fertility were not completed owing to the breakdown of the incubator. 
Longevity of females, males and nymphs. 
Females. The longevity of the female tick under varying conditions is 
recorded in the following table, being reckoned in days from the date of 
moult: 
Longevity in days 
A 
No. of 
individuals 
observed 
Condition 
Temp. ° C. 
r 
Min. 
Max. 
"A 
Mean 
Performing normal functions 
22 
554 
862 
715 
6 
99 99 99 
30 
310 
481 
397 
5 
99 99 99 
37 
118 
162 
145 
6 
Unfed 
37 
32 
105 
78 
12 
Males: (a) Unfed and kept at 30° C.: 
13 males (progeny of ? 45), which emerged on 11. xii. 13, lived for minimum, 
maximum and mean periods of 130, 244 and 184 days. 
(b) Allowed one feed and kept at 37° C.: 
11 males (progeny of $ 41), which emerged on 10. xii. 13 were fed on 
15. xii. 13. They lived for minimum, maximum and mean periods of 98, 136 
and 123 days. 
First-stage nymphs — unfed: 
Longevity in days 
No. of 
Date of 
r ' 
A 
> 
individuals 
Temp, in ° C. 
emergence 
Min. 
Max. 
Mean 
observed 
22 
30. x. 13 
305 
400 
362 
23 
24. vii. 13 
245 
302 
267 
26 
12. x. 13 
310 
418 
347 
110 
30 
30. x. 13 
141 
210 
179 
23 
37 
30. x. 13 
45 
62 
51 
23 
