Spermatophore Transfer and Fertilization of Lone Star Ticks1 off the Host

Abstract

Adult male Amblyomma americanum (L.) allowed to feed for 9–10 days on a host and then placed with unfed virgin females (density of 25 ♂ and 25 ♀) in vials successfully transferred spermatophores to 20–56% of the females. When these females were thereafter allowed to engorge on guinea pigs, they produced viable eggs. Engorgement periods of females that mated off the host were shorter (minimum 6 days) than those of females placed on a host at the same time with unfed males (minimum 11 days), but the percent hatch of eggs laid by females mated off the host was lower. Prefed males mated only once. Increasing the density of prefed males and females in the vials from a density of 1 ♂ and 1 ♀ to 5 ♂ and 5 ♀ and to 10 ♂ and 10 ♀ increased the chances of successful matings. The percent hatch of eggs laid by females mated off the host decreased with an increase in the interval between mating and placement of the females on the hosts for engorgement.