Timing of Dropping from the Host Lizard in the Tick : Ixodes asanumai (Acarina : Ixodidae)

Abstract

Generally, ticks drop from the host animal after engorgement. Timing of this dropping was investigated in the tick Ixodes asanumai parasitic on the lizard Eumeces okadae. As a result, engorged larvae and nymphs dropped at night. Since this lizard has diurnal activity and shelters at night, they are considered t drop in the lizard's burrow. On the contrary, females dropped in the daytime. This suggests they drop on the ground surface when the lizard is basking or foraging, The former from the reason that it is easy for the next stage of thicks after molting to encounter the host lizard, and the latter from that larvae hatched from the egg batch can disperse, are considered to be adaptive, respectively.