Summary
The patterns of feeding activity and salivation of the cattle tick, Boophilus microplus are described. The form of the electrical signal traces is discussed in relation to the structure of the feeding apparatus. For the first six days after attachment female ticks are mainly inactive. The intensity of feeding and salivation is greater at night and reaches its peak on the final night of attachment.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Balashov, Yu. S.: Quantities of blood ingested by ixodid ticks (Acarina, Ixodidae) in the feeding stage. Zool. Zh. 43, 418–423 (1964).
— The structure of the oral apparatus and the mechanism of the blood-sucking of ixodid ticks. Tr. Zool. Inst. 35, 251–271 (1965).
Callow, L. L.: The infection of Boophilus microplus with Babesia bigemina. Parasitology 58, 663–670 (1968).
Gregson, J. D.: Morphology and functioning of the mouthparts of Der macentor andersoni Stiles. Part I: In relation to the tick. Part II: In relation to the host. Acta. trop. (Basel) 17, 48–79 (1960).
-- Electrical observations of tick feeding in relation to disease transmission. Proc. 2nd Intl. Congr. Acarol. 329–339 (1969).
Griffiths, R. B., Gordon, R. M.: An apparatus which enables the process of feeding by mosquitoes to be observed in the tissues of a live rodent; together with an account of the ejection of saliva and its significance in malaria. Ann. trop. Med. Parasit. 46, 311–319 (1952).
Jellison, W. L., Kohls, G. M.: Tick host anemia; a secondary anemia induced by Dermacentor andersoni Stiles. J. Parasit. 24, 143–154 (1938).
Kashin, P., Wakely, N. G.: An insect ‘bitometer’. Nature (Lond.) 208, 462–464 (1965).
Kemp, D. H., Tatchell, R. J.: The mechanism of feeding and salivation in Boophilus microplus (Canestrini, 1887). Z. Parasitenk. 37, 55–69 (1971).
McLean, D. L., Kinsey, M. G.: A technique for electrically recording aphid feeding and salivation. Nature (Lond.) 202, 1358–1359 (1964).
Roberts, J. A.: Resistance of cattle to the tick Boophilus microplus (Canestrini). I. Development of ticks on Bos taurus. J. Parasit. 54, 663–666 (1968).
Seifert, G. W., Springell, P. H., Tatchell, R. J.: Radioactive studies on the feeding of larvae, nymphs, and adults of the cattle tick, Boophilus microplus (Canestrini). Parasitology 58, 415–430 (1968).
Sutton, E., Arthur, D. R.: Tick feeding in relation to disease transmission. Symp. Zool. Soc. Lond. 6, 223–252 (1962).
Sweatman, G. K., Gregson, J. D.: Feeding electrograms of Hyalomma aegyptium ticks at different temperatures. J. Med. Ent. 7, 575–584 (1970).
Tatchell, R. J.: Salivary secretion in the cattle tick as a means of water elimination. Nature (Lond.) 213, 940–941 (1967).
-- The significance of host parasite relationships in the feeding of the cattle tick Boophilus microplus (Canestrini). Proc. 2nd Intl. Congr. Acarol. 341–345 (1969).
— Moorhouse, D. E.: Neutrophils: their role in the formation of a tick feeding lesion. Science 167, 1002–1003 (1970).
Wharton, R. H., Utech, K. B. W.: The engorgement and dropping of Boophilus microplus (Canestrini). Proc. 2nd Intl. Congr. Acarol. 347–348 (1969).
Zweifach, B. W., Grant, L., McCluskey, R. T. (eds.): The inflammatory process. New York: Academic Press 1965.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tatchell, R.J., Carnell, R. & Kemp, D.H. Electrical studies on the feeding of the cattle-tick, Boophilus microplus . Z. F. Parasitenkunde 38, 32–44 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00259482
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00259482