MODEL FOR SURVIVAL OF UNFED FEMALE AMBLYOMMA-VARIEGATUM (ACARI, IXODIDAE) IN KENYA

Experiments were conducted in three different ecozones in Kenya to mea sure the survival of unfed females of the ixodid tick Amblyomma varieg atum under field conditions. Throughout the study, temperature, relati ve humidity, and rainfall were recorded every hour at each of the thre e sites. Using a multiple linear regression procedure, a model was pro duced to describe survival of unfed females in terms of high temperatu re at ground level (cumulative day-degrees >34-degrees-C) and age. The various ways in which age and temperature can influence survival are discussed.