Biological differences within Rhipicephalus appendiculatus Neumann (Acari: Ixodidae populations in Kenya.

Abstract

Differences in biological parameters of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus Neumann, the brown ear tick, were investigated. They included engorgement weight of larvae, nymphs and females, fecundity, size of unfed females and mean larval and nymphal duration post-repletion on rabbits to completion of the moult. Ticks were collected from four geographically isolated zones in Kenya and from nymphs and females, size of unfed females and weight of egg batches per tick were noted (p < 0.05). It is concluded that R. appendiculatus in Kenya differ in some important biological characters. These features that showed differences might have important implications in the control of the vector as well as East Coast Fever (ECF) epidemiology.