Summary
The surface structure and histology of the nymphal and developing pharate adult Haemaphysalis (Kaiseriana) longicornis and of nymphal Boophilus microplus spiracles are described by light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Surface pores and ostial aperture in the nymphal spiracular plate are observed by SEM (H. longicornis and B. microplus) and in histological sections (H. longicornis). Formation of the pharate adult tick spiracle starts 2 or 3 days after nymphal detachment from the host and is completed on day 14 or 15 when the adult is ready to emerge. During this interval, hypodermal cells beneath the nymphal spiracular plate differentiate into the pharate adult spiracle components and form a thickened, folded edge around the ostial aperture, which contains detached nymphal tracheae. The developing adult spiracular plate shows goblets and interpedicellar spaces and a lip-guarded ostium. The molting process of the adult tick spiracle is more simple than that of insects having specialised spiracular plates.
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From Research Projects MR041.09.01-0037 A 6GI and MF51.524. 009-3010B F61, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Department of the Navy, Washington, D.C. The opinions and assertions contained herein are the private ones of the author and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the Department of the Navy or of the naval service at large. This study was assisted by Agreement 03-005-1 between the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (National Institutes of Health) and NAMRU-3, by a special grant from the office of Naval Research (ONR), and by ONR contract N00014-70-A-0120-001 (R. C. Axtell, principal investigator).
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Roshdy, M.A. Structure of the nymphal spiracle and its formation in the pharate adult Haemaphysalis (Kaiseriana) longicornis neumann (ixodoidea: Ixodidae). Z. F. Parasitenkunde 44, 1–14 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00328827
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00328827