LIFE-CYCLE OF IXODES MINOR (ACARI, IXODIDAE) IN THE LABORATORY

Details of the laboratory life cycle of 3 generations of Ixodes,nino, Neumann were recorded. Larvae and nymphs were fed on white laboratory mice and adults were fed on woodrats. Nymphs fed for 4 d and larvae fo r an average of 4 d; approximate to 10 to 11 d were required for femal es to engorge. After feeding, females laid approximate to 1,600 eggs t hat required an average of 39.7 d to hatch. Eggs were maintained at 97 .5% RH and approximate to 25 degrees C as were all stages of the ticks when not feeding. The life cycle in the laboratory required approxima te to 180 d; however, in nature it probably takes longer. I. minor has been recorded from several rodent and bird species known to be infect ed with Borrelia burgdorferi (Johnson, Schmid, Hyde, Steigerwalt & Bre nner). This study provides data on the life cycle of a potential enzoo tic tick vector of this spirochete.