The life cycles of six different species of ticks (Amblyomma americanum, Dermacentor variabilis, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Haemaphysalis leporispalustris, Ixodes scapularis, and Ixodes pacificus ) were studied under laboratory conditions. New Zealand white rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus ) were used as hosts for all tick species and developmental stages. While ticks were on rabbits, their engorgement status was checked daily. Fully engorged ticks were kept in environmental incubators at 24 ± 1ºC and 90 % humidity with a day/night photoperiod of 16:8 hours. Once stored in incubators, ticks were checked weekly for changes in development. The average duration of feeding and molting (or oviposition) was assessed for each developmental stage. Minimal length life cycles were determined assuming ticks were ready to feed as soon as they finished molting. However, most ticks required an additional 2-4 weeks for post-molting development. The time needed for each species to complete one life cycle is as follows: Amblyomma americanum : 198–213 days, Dermacentor variabilis : 178-193 days, Rhipicephalus sanguineus : 165-180 days, Haemaphysalis leporispalustris : 210-225 days, Ixodes scapularis : 206-221 days, and Ixodes pacificus : 217-232 days.
Species 1: Acari Ixodidae Amblyomma americanum
Species 2: Acari Ixodidae Dermacentor variabilis
Species 3: Acari Ixodidae Rhipicephalus sanguineus
Keywords: ticks, life cycle
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