Gamma Radiation Effects on Reproductive Biology of the Tick Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae)

Abstract

Male Amblyomma americanum were irradiated at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, and 16 krad in ambient air and were mated with untreated females. Mating was impaired at 16 krad. The number of females engorging and ovipositing decreased as the radiation dosage of their mates increased. Attachment period of females increased as male radiation dosage increased. No relationship was seen between radiation dosage of males and preoviposition period of females mated to them, number of eggs laid per female, or weights of eggs.