title: Simple in-vitro feeding system for northern fowl mites (Acari: Macronyssidae).
abstract: The use of Parafilm membranes for in-vitro feeding of northern fowl mites, Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Canestrini & Fanzago), is described. A membrane stretched in two perpendicular directions, folded, heat-sealed, inflated, and twisted at the ends to form a sphere allowed a high percentage (greater than 80%) of surviving adult female mites to feed on whole chicken blood. A high percentage (7 of 10) of protonymphs also fed through the membrane. Mites were able to feed from the same sac for 3 d and oviposited on the sac. This technology has potential applications for use in rearing O. sylviarum and other hematophagous arthropods, and for physiological experimentation.
authors.affiliation: Livestock Insects Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD 20705.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Bruce
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001769:Blood; D002645:Chickens / Q000097:blood / Q000469:parasitology*; D005241:Feathers; D005260:Female; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008924:Mite Infestations / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008925:Mites / Q000502:physiology*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial