Relação entre o peso e o número de larvas e ninfas ingurgitadas e entre o período de ingurgitamento ninfal e o sexo dos adultos de Haemaphysalis leporispalustris (Packard, 1869) (Acari, Ixodidae) em condições experimentais

Helena Teixeira de Freitas, LucianaDaemon, ErikCristina de Azevedo Prata, MárciaLuiz Horácio Faccini, João

The possibility of adopting a pattern for the conversion of weight in number of larvae and engorged nymphs of Haemaphysalis leporispalustris (Packard, 1869) was evaluated. The material studied was kept in a chamber regulated at 27 ± 1C and UR ³ 80% and fed on rabbits. The conversion of weight in number of engorged larvae (50 engorged larvae varying from 14,15 to 16,08 mg) should be adopted only in experiments which do not require precision owing to the occurrence of significant differences between the groups of 50 engorged larvae according to the rabbit used for the engorgement. The average weight of the 50 engorged nymphs was 73,44 ± 5,30 mg, being this a reliable parameter as there has been no variation among the recovery days nor among the hosts used. There was an influence of the engorgement period on the proportion of males and females obtained at each day of recovery, but the weight average of all engorged nymphs during the infestation period did not influence on this proportion. Although there has been no significant difference among the average weights of the 50 engorged nymphs according to the day of collection, it was observed that there was a greater efficiency in the engorgement of individuals which became males as they got loose more precociously than those which turned into females.