title: [Biological aspects of Argas (Persicargas) miniatus Kock, 1844, (Ixodoidea; Argasidae) larvae in Gallus gallus].
abstract: The aim of the present study was to describe the biological aspects of larvae of Argas miniatus at 27+/-1 masculineC and 80+/-5% and in environmental condition. Domestic fowls with age lower than one week were infested with approximately 700 larvae of A. miniatus 15 days posthatching. The period of larval fixation varied from 3 to 7 days in four repetitions. Approximately 90% of larvae were recovered in the 4th and 5th day after attachment. The mean weight increased approximately 81.37 times the initial weight of the unfed larvae. The mean larval mortality in controlled conditions and laboratory environment were 6.35% and 13.97%, respectively. Molting period varied from 4 to 9 days in controlled condition, while in the environment conditions the interval varied from 5 to 15 days. The larval longevity was 120 days, in both conditions. Unfed larvae maintained at 27+/-1 masculineC and 80+/-5% and environment condition were capable to attach from 6 to 60 days and 8 to 45 days, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, BR 465 km 7, Seropédica, RJ 23890-000, Brazil. huarrisson@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Huarrisson A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Fernanda N R
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Evangelista
authors.forename: Júlio T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Tajiri
authors.forename: Marcos P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Franque
authors.forename: Tiago M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Dos Santos
authors.forename: Carlos Luis
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Massard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D026864:Argas / Q000502:physiology*; D002645:Chickens / Q000469:parasitology*; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology