Studies on the critical water mass and the rehydration potential of unfed adult Dermacentor marginatus and D. reticulatus ticks (Acari: Ixodidae).

Abstract

In unfed adult Dermacentor marginatus and D. reticulatus ticks survival and capability to restore water balance after loss of high percentages of exchangeable body water were investigated. Furthermore, it was examined how frequently dehydrated ticks of these species were able to rehydrate by uptake of atmospheric water vapour. The critical water mass, defined as the water mass remaining in a tick at the nonambulatory state, differed between light and heavy weight groups and averaged 62.4 and 55.8%, respectively, of the total body water of fully hydrated ticks in females, and 54.4 and 51.1%, respectively, in males of D. marginatus. In D. reticulatus, the corresponding figures were 55.9 and 54.7% in females and 52.1 and 52.7% in males. All ticks survived dehydration to 50, 75 or 100% of the critical water mass, and 96.7% of the D. marginatus ticks and 95.8% of the D. reticulatus ticks compensated water losses during subsequent incubation at 95% relative humidity (r.h.) and 20 degrees C. Unfed females and males of both Dermacentor spp. were capable to balance water loss very frequently over a period of several months. When ticks were repeatedly dehydrated at 0% r.h. for 7 days and rehydrated at 95% r.h. and 20 degrees C, females and males of D. marginatus reached the 50% mortality after 22 and 29 cycles of de- and rehydration, respectively, during 211 and 285 days, respectively. In D. reticulatus, 50% of females and males survived 23 and 17 cycles, respectively, during 248 and 186 days, respectively. Rehydration weights were as high or even higher as those of ticks kept at permanent 95% r.h.