The feeding behaviour of larvae, nymphs and adults of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus

Abstract

The pre-feeding and feeding periods of larvae, nymphs and adults of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus on rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were investigated. Larvae and nymphs required at least 8–9 days after hatching and moulting respectively before they could attach and start feeding, while adults required at least 6–9 days. But longer periods of starvation improved the proportion of ticks that successfully fed.After attachment, there was always an initial period of slow feeding, which was followed by a phase of very rapid feeding before the engorged ticks detached from the host. Larvae detached 4–5 days after attachment, nymphs detached after 5–6 days and adults detached 7–9 days after attachment.