BIOLOGY OF IXODES (PHOLEOIXODES) HEXAGONUS UNDER LABORATORY CONDITIONS .2. EFFECT OF MATING ON FEEDING AND FECUNDITY OF FEMALES

The effect of mating on the feeding and fecundity of Ixodes (Pholeoixo des) hexagonus females was studied under controlled laboratory conditi ons of 22-23 degrees C and 98% relative humidity. The feeding period o f mated females was 6-15 days and 11-13 days for unmated females. The mean weight of the engorged mated females was 114.84 +/- 45.89 mg, whe reas, that of the engorged unmated females was significantly lower (80 .61 +/- 28.84 mg). During the initial slow feeding period, the weight of mated females increased 6.6 times. At the end of the blood feeding, they had increased their initial weight 35.5 times. Unmated females n ever entered the rapid engorgement phase and up to 12 days of feeding period their mean weight did not increase more than 9.2 times. The pre -oviposition periods of mated and unmated females were 6-15 days and 4 -12 days, respectively. The mean of the egg production efficiency was 40.26 +/- 12.47% for mated females and 35.68 +/- 12.2% for unmated fem ales. The mean of the mass conversion efficiency was 73.6 +/- 13.7% fo r mated females and 66.48 +/- 16.55% for unmated females. Sixty per ce nt of the eggs deposited by mated females hatched whereas only 1% of t he eggs deposited by unmated females hatched. These results indicate t hat I. hexagonus females possess some predisposition for parthenogenes is and only fertility and not fecundity depends on mating.