Hu R, Rowley W A
Department of Entomology, Iowa State University, Ames 50011-3222, USA.
J Med Entomol. 2000 Jan;37(1):198-200. doi: 10.1603/0022-2585-37.1.198.
The relationship between weights of the nymphal stage and their resultant sexes in Ixodes scapularis Say and Dermacentor variabilis (Say) was examined under laboratory conditions. Nymphs were fed to repletion on laboratory white mice, weighed individually, and held until they molted. Fully engorged I. scapularis nymphs that subsequently molted to females weighed between 3.8 and 6.4 mg (n = 64). Those nymphs that molted to males weighed between 2.0 and 3.2 mg (n = 57). Body weights of engorged nymphs that became females were significantly greater than those of nymphs that became males (P < 0.05). Similarly, the range of body weights of engorged D. variabilis nymphs that subsequently became females was 9.1-15.1 mg (n = 32), whereas those nymphs that molted to males weighed between 3.9 and 13.0 mg (n = 39). Body weights of engorged nymphs that became females were significantly greater than those of nymphs that became males (P < 0.05). This suggests that nymphs of both species that become females presumably imbibe more blood than those that became males.
在实验室条件下，研究了肩突硬蜱（Ixodes scapularis Say）和变异革蜱（Dermacentor variabilis (Say)）若虫阶段的体重与其最终性别的关系。让若虫在实验室小白鼠身上饱食，单独称重，然后饲养至蜕皮。随后蜕变为雌性的饱血肩突硬蜱若虫体重在3.8至6.4毫克之间（n = 64）。那些蜕变为雄性的若虫体重在2.0至3.2毫克之间（n = 57）。变为雌性的饱血若虫体重显著高于变为雄性的若虫（P < 0.05）。同样，随后变为雌性的饱血变异革蜱若虫体重范围为9.1 - 15.1毫克（n = 32），而那些蜕变为雄性的若虫体重在3.9至13.0毫克之间（n = 39）。变为雌性的饱血若虫体重显著高于变为雄性的若虫（P < 0.05）。这表明，这两个物种中变为雌性的若虫摄取的血液量可能比变为雄性的若虫更多。
