A note on slide-mounting technique of unfed immature stages of Amblyomma cajennense (Fabricius, 1787) (Acari: Ixodidae)

Abstract

A technique first developed for mounting copepods was adapted for preparations of unfed larvae and nymphs of A. cajennense. Specimens were fixed in 70% ethanol, transferred to lactic acid for 1 h at 50°C, then transferred to alcohol saturated with phenol for 24 h; after clarification, they were washed in ethanol, transferred to a creosote solution for 24 h then mounted in Canada balsam. The larvae and nymphs were still in good condition after 4 years.