OVIPOSITION BY 2 AUSTRALIAN SPECIES OF REPTILE TICK

A comparison was made of the number and viability of eggs laid by fema les of two reptile tick species, Amblyomma limbatum and Aponomma hydro sauri on each day of the ovipositional cycle. The ovipositional curves of both species followed a similar pattern, with the number of eggs l aid increasing sharply during the first few days but then gradually de clining. The peak of the oviposition period of Amb. limbatum females w as however two days earlier than that of Ap. hydrosauri females. Amb. limbatum females also laid significantly more eggs than Ap. hydrosauri of an equivalent body weight and their eggs were significantly fighte r in weight. These differences may reflect adaptations to the differen t conditions experienced by each species throughout most of their rang e.