Abstract:
Phases in the growth of the reproductive organs and gametogenesis were followed in both males
and females of Boophilus decoloratus (Koch, 1844). Special attention was given to the timing of
meiosis, the production of mature spermiophores, mating and spermiophore relocation in the female.
The main growth phase of the male testes takes place during the nymphal stage while that of the
accessory gland complex takes place during the 4 days after moulting and before mating. The main
growth phase of female ovaries and oviducts takes place during the post-mating period on the ho5t
and the preoviposition period. Meiosis in males takes place only after the attachment of the newly-moulted
ticks; spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis occur within a period of 4 days, after which
pairing and spermatophore transfer take place. Meiosis was not observed in female ticks and it is
concluded that this reduction division takes place only after spermiophore penetration of the oocytes
and egg shell formation. Female ticks may be impregnated more than once, a maximum of 5 matings
being deduced from counts of spermiophore capsules in the female seminal receptacle. Each
spermatophore produced by male ticks yields either I but more commonly 2 spermiophore capsules.
The reproduction of B. decoloratus is briefly discussed and compared with other Ixodoidea.
