Water vapour uptake from subsaturated atmospheres by engorged immature ixodid ticks

Abstract

Contrary to current opinion, fully engorged and detached larvae and nymphs of some ixodid ticks consistently take up substantial amounts of atmospheric water vapour and thereby display their regulative capacity for maintaining water balance in subsaturated air. Net uptake of vapour generally begins some days after detachment and the capability persists until shortly after initiation of apolysis, a period which in diapausing specimens may extend up to several months. This was shown for Ixodes ricinus, Haemaphysalis punctata, and the North American I. dammini. Apparently, some other engorged ixodid immatures fail to exhibit net vapour uptake, as was shown for both larvae and nymphs of Dermacentor marginatus and nymphs of Hyalomma anatolicum excavatum. But there is some evidence for engorged nymphs of D. marginatus that active uptake of vapour does occur, masked by spiracular transpiration. Net uptake of vapour is apparently not possible during the pharate phases. In I. ricinus both teneral nymphs and adults are capable of achieving net water gains by active vapour uptake on the first day following ecdysis. There is new evidence from fully engorged I. ricinus immatures for the decisive role of agranular alveoli in the production of the salivary secretion involved in vapour uptake.