RESPIRATORY METABOLISM OF THE SOFT TICK, ORNITHODOROS-TURICATA (DUGES)

The rate of oxygen consumption was investigated in fed larval, nymphal and adult Ornithodoros turicata ticks and in starved nymphal and adul t ticks. Oxygen consumption rate of fed adult ticks increased with inc reasing temperature. The metabolic rate of adult ticks was affected by starvation whereby starved adult ticks showed a significantly lower o xygen consumption than their fed counterparts. The oxygen consumption rate of fed female ticks was significantly higher than that of fed mal es but, there was no significant difference between the oxygen consump tion rates of starved female versus starved male ticks. Oxygen consump tion of fed larvae was significantly greater than those of fed first t hrough third instar nymphs. Fed and starved nymphal ticks as well as f ed adult ticks ventilated continuously. In contrast, starved adults ve ntilated discontinuously. The ability to reduce metabolic rate, plus t he capability to ventilate discontinuously allow O. turicata adults to cope with prolonged starvation.