Lifecycle of Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides under laboratory conditions

Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides Supino, 1897 (Ixodida: Ixodidae) is a three-host hard tick widely distributed in Sri Lanka. The lifecycle of the R. haemaphysaloides population in Sri Lanka was studied under laboratory conditions using fully engorged females collected from dogs. Larvae, nymphs and adults were reared on New Zealand rabbits. Engorged females weighed a mean ± standard deviation (SD) of 470.1 ± 106.5 mg and laid a mean ± SD of 4067.4 ± 3136.2 eggs within 16.1 ± 3.7 days. The mean ± SD preoviposition period was 6.5 ± 1.1 days. The mean ± SD reproductive efficiency index was 8.5 ± 4.1, and was higher in heavier females (Pearson correlation, r = 0.8; P = 0.001). The incubation period of eggs was shorter at higher temperatures. The majority (86.9%) of larvae successfully moulted after a mean ± SD premoulting period of 7.9 ± 0.7 days following a parasitic period of 3.2 ± 0.5 days. Unfed larvae survived a mean ± SD of 103.4 ± 19.8 days. Nymphs completed the bloodmeal after 3.7 ± 0.9 days, weighed 5.7 ± 1.7 mg and demonstrated a premoulting period of 15.1 ± 1.9 days. Unfed nymphs survived a mean ± SD of 45.8 ± 3.8 days. Heavier nymphs moulted into females, whereas lighter nymphs moulted into males (two-sample t-test, P < 0.001). The bodyweight of adult females increased more than 100-fold after feeding. The lifecycle of R. haemaphysaloides was successfully completed on rabbits within a mean of 91.3 days (range: 69–117 days) under laboratory conditions.