Effect of temperature and relative humidity on the life cycle of Ornithodoros (Pavlovskyella) erraticus (Ixodoidea: Argasidae).

The effect of different temperatures (18, 22, 28, and 32.5 C, at constant 75% RH) and relative humidities (0, 15, 42, 60, 75, 84, and 92%, at constant 28 C) on the duration of the life cycle of Ornithodoros (Pavlovskyella) erraticus is studied in the laboratory. The egg incubation period is longer at 22 C than at the other temperatures tested; the percentage of hatched eggs was markedly increased at 28 C in comparison with other temperatures (T's) and relative humidities (RH's) tested. At constant 28 C, most larvae (86.2%) are ready to feed within 7.2 days posthatching; they feed for 5-52 min and molt to N1 in 7.8 days postfeeding. Five nymphal instars are recorded. Unfed N1-N5 survived for a longer period at 18 C than at other temperatures, whereas the effect of RH's was insignificant. After feeding, nymphal premolting periods differ from one instar to another and from one T or RH to another. At 28 C, the males emerge from N3, N4, and N5 in 9-15 days postfeeding, while females emerge only from N4 and N5 in 10-16 days. The overall sex ratio (3 male:5 female) is not affected by different T's and RH's. The female and male life spans were longer (means 720 and 500 days, respectively) at 22 C than at other T's and RH's. This study shows that the duration of the life cycle of O. erraticus decreases with rising T and increases with an increase in RH. However, the 28 C and 75% RH seem to be the optimum conditions for this species.