First description of conspecific hyperparasitism in Amblyomma sculptum

Abstract

The present study reports a case of conspecific hyperparasitism for Amblyomma sculptum. Two partially engorged females were collected from two naturally infested dairy cows and placed in a single petri dish to be transported to the laboratory, where they were held in a biological oxygen demand (BOD) incubator chamber under controlled conditions of 27 ± 1 °C and 85 ± 5% RH. After one day, it was observed that the smaller female (female 1) was attached to the dorsal surface of the larger female (female 2). The hypostome and chelicerae of the female 1 were entirely inserted into the cuticle of the female 2, characterizing tick attachment. Pictures were taken to illustrate the finding. After a few hours, the female 1 detached spontaneously and showed no visible signs of additional enlargement (engorgement). The females did not lay eggs and the survival period was not recorded. To our knowledge this is the first report of hyperparasitism for A. sculptum and the fourth for the genus Amblyomma.