OBSERVATIONS ON THE NON-PARASITIC PHASE OF THE LIFE CYCLE OF Boophilus microplus (CANESTRINI) IN THE COLOMBIAN FLAT ALTILLANURA

Abstract

Preliminary observations were conduc­ted on the nonparasitic phase of the life cycle of Boophilus microplus in four different types of pastures: An­dropogon gayanus, Brachiaria decum­bens, Melinis minutiflora and native savanna. Studies were conducted at the "Carimagua" Research Center, lo­cated in the eastern plains of Colom­bia. Observations were mainly oriented towards the standardization of metho­dology. The adult-larvae period (PAL); larval survival (SL) and total longevity (LT) were determined on grass plots and cylinders of brass wire gauze. On cylinders, quantitative methods of re­productive capacity as Efficiency Con­version Index (IEC) and Reproductive Potential Index (IPR), were evaluated. The PAL did not change withing diffe­rent grasses and it varied from 27 to 32 days according to the month of expo­sure. The grass-plot method was the best. The SL varied according to the grass and month of exposure, being on dry and hot months shorter in Andropo­gon and longer in Brachiaria. The LT was short enough in the dry months to lead to recommendations on the use of pasture spelling methods for tick control, but precise information is needed. More research is necessary for quantitative methods before their use of fieldwork.