A COMPARISON OF THE OFF-HOST SURVIVAL TIMES OF LARVAE AND NYMPHS OF 2SPECIES OF REPTILE TICKS

A comparison was made of the survival times of unfed larvae and unfed nymphs of two Australian species of ixodid tick. Under desiccating con ditions of high temperature and low humidity, Aponomma hydrosauri nymp hs had significantly shorter survival times than Amblyomma limbatum ny mphs. The survival times of unfed larvae of both species declined as t emperature increased and as relative humidity decreased. Ap. hydrosaur i larvae had equivalent or longer survival times than Amb. limbatum la rvae in most conditions. These results are discussed in relation to th e geographical ranges of the two species.