Abstract:
The success of natural infestations of various life history stages of Amblyomma hebraeum and Amblyomma
marmoreum on the leopard tortoise, Geochelone pardalis, was compared. Success was measured by the time
taken for ticks to detach, as well as the percentage of ticks engorging and subsequently either moulting to the
next life history stage or laying viable eggs. Larvae of A. hebraeum were the only developmental stage not
recovered. Nymphae and female A. hebraeum were less successful in moulting or laying eggs than the corresponding
stages of A. marmoreum. Nevertheless, 48,7 % of A. hebraeum nymphae moulted, while 1 of 6
females laid viable eggs.
