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The current study investigated the biology of nymphs of the first and second instars of Argas (Persicargas) miniatus. Nymphs were deprived of food for 15, 30 or 60 days and held at 27 ± 1 °C and 80 ± 10% relative humidity (controlled conditions) or at room conditions of temperature and relative humidity. Nymphs of first instar deprived of food for 15 or 30 days molted to second and third instars in both controlled and room conditions. Nymphs of the first instar deprived of food for 60 days had 28 and 37% mortality in controlled and room conditions, respectively; and survivors did not attach to the host. Nymphs of the second instar, deprived of food for 60 days, molted either to the third instar or to males after feeding on Gallus gallus, and the nymphs of the third instar developed to adults (42.42% males and 36.36% females when nymphs were held in controlled temperature and humidity conditions, and 40.54% males and 48.65% females when nymphs were held in room conditions). The remainder of the nymphs molted to the fourth instar and then molted to females. In conclusion, the nymphal starvation period of 60 days determined the number of nymph instars in the life cycle of A. miniatus under the experimental conditions studied.

The aim of the present study was to describe the biological aspects of larvae of Argas miniatus at 27+/-1 masculineC and 80+/-5% and in environmental condition. Domestic fowls with age lower than one week were infested with approximately 700 larvae of A. miniatus 15 days posthatching. The period of larval fixation varied from 3 to 7 days in four repetitions. Approximately 90% of larvae were recovered in the 4th and 5th day after attachment. The mean weight increased approximately 81.37 times the initial weight of the unfed larvae. The mean larval mortality in controlled conditions and laboratory environment were 6.35% and 13.97%, respectively. Molting period varied from 4 to 9 days in controlled condition, while in the environment conditions the interval varied from 5 to 15 days. The larval longevity was 120 days, in both conditions. Unfed larvae maintained at 27+/-1 masculineC and 80+/-5% and environment condition were capable to attach from 6 to 60 days and 8 to 45 days, respectively.

Boophilus microplus, a common parasite of cattle, has eventually reported in dogs. To describe biological features of this parasitism, one dog was experimentally infested with 10,000 larvae of B. microplus which were previously held in acclimatized camera at 27+/-1 degrees C and relative humidity up to 80%. The mean of parasitic phase was 24.4+/-1.50 days, with 0.42% of recovery rate. Of 21 natural detached B. microplus females, six engorged enough (75.1+/-30.23 mg) to achieve posture. The mean period of pre-posture was 4.33+/-1.37 days and the means period of posture was 9.17+/-2.32, producing a mean of 18.78+/-15.34 posture weight. The mean of eggs production index observed was 22.38%. The results showed that B. microplus females fed on dogs to complete their life cycle. The females collected were able to ovoposite viable eggs suggesting that dogs can be a possible alternative hosts to B. microplus, especially when there is no other preferential host species available.