Seasonal variation of Boophilus microplus on the Santa Catarina Plateau

Abstract

During the period from March 1979 to February 1982, a group of twelve adult Flemish cattle was maintained in the same padock with native pasture, without tick dipping. Every fifteen days, the young and engorged female stages on the right side of each animal were counted. At the same time, mean monthly temperatures and humidity were recorded. The infestations on the animal showed low levels in the months of August and November, while the most significant infestation intensities were recorded from January to April. This seasonal fluctuation showed, by simple linear regressive analysis a strong similarity between the three years (superior to 76%).