A preliminary experiment on the cold tolerance of the non-diapausing and diapausing groups of engorged Ixodes persulcatus larvae and nymphs

Abstract

The molting percentages of the non-diapausing and diapausing groups of engorged I. persulcatus larvae and nymphs were compared after exposure to a low temperature (-5℃) for 1-50 days. The molting percentages of the engorged larvae and nymphs decreased as the duration of the treatment was prolonged. In both engorged larvae and nymphs, there was no great difference in the molting percentage between the non-diapausing and diapausing groups. This suggests that the increase of the cold tolerance by diapause did not occur in engorged I. persulcatus larvae and nymphs.