Wouters G, Gomes A F
Institute of Tropical Medicine, Division of Animal Health, Antwerp, Belgium.
Med Vet Entomol. 1989 Oct;3(4):423-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2915.1989.tb00250.x.
Sixteen strains of ticks of the Rhipicephalus appendiculatus/zambeziensis complex were created by cross-breeding for one to three generations. The body-weights of adult male ticks of these consanguineous lines were compared. A significant genetic variation was distinguished between the groups. Three classes whose mean weights varied around, respectively, 2, 3 and 4 mg/adult male tick, were found. This variation in weight may be explained by hybridization between R. appendiculatus Neumann and R. zambeziensis Walker, Norval & Corwin. Hybrid ticks were undersized whereas R. appendiculatus and R. zambeziensis groups had significantly higher weights.
