The subgenus Persicargas (Ixodoidea: Argasidae: Argas). 25. Effect of temperature on diapause termination in female A. (P.) arboreus Kaiser,Hoogstraal and Kohls

The effect of constant 26, 30, 34, and 37 C temperatures on diapause incidence (percentage of diapause females) and intensity (duration of preoviposition period) was compared in field-collected (FC) and laboratory-reared (LR) F₁ and F₂ female A. (P.) arboreus. Diapause incidence, 89–100%, and intensity 115–133 days, in the FC were high at all temperatures except at 30 C when the intensity was reduced (84 days). Diapause incidence, 91–94%, and intensity, 132–137 days, in LRF₁ were high at 26 and 30 C. At 34 and 37 C, both (33% and 78 days) were lower than in FC and LRF₁ at 26 and 30 C. Diapause incidence was always lower in LRF₂ than in FC and LRF₁ and decreased as the temperature increased (58, 30, 17, and 0%, respectively). Diapause intensity in LRF₂ at 26 C (133 days) was high and similar to that in FC and LRF₁ at 26 C but was low at 30 and 34 C (84 and 87 days, respectively). In all groups, diapause intensity was higher in females kept outdoors (191–218 days) than in those held in the laboratory. The results suggest that rearing in the laboratory caused an increased sensitivity of diapause LRF₁ and F₂ females to high temperature.