The life cycle and development characteristics of Dermacentor everestianus (Acari: Ixodidae) under field conditions in Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

The tick Dermacentor everestianus mainly distributed in Tibet, China and Nepal, and can transmit some pathogens causing great damages in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. This study investigated the life cycle and development characteristics of D. everestianus under field conditions. The average duration of the whole life cycle of D. everestianus was 124.4 days, with the host available in the field plot. Under natural conditions, the mean feeding, preoviposition and oviposition period of female ticks were 6.1, 17.9 and 21.2 days, respectively. The incubation time of eggs was the longest phase in the life cycle of the ticks (26 days on average). Moreover, the weight of engorged females was highly positively correlated with the number of the eggs that were laid (r = 0.81, P < 0.05). The reproductive efficiency index and reproductive fitness index in females were 7.3 and 5.9, respectively. The above findings suggest that the tick D. everestianus have evolved well adaptability to the highland areas.