Darkness increases the population growth rate of the poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae

Parasites & Vectors

Table 3 Oviposition and hatchability of D. gallinae in the rearing system under the two photoperiods

Photoperiod	Females	Oviposition			Hatchability
Photoperiod	Females	Total no. of eggs	Mean no. of eggs/female	Mean ± SD	Number	Percentage	Mean ± SD
12:12 h L:D	50	173	3.46	3.62 ± 0.31	168	97.11	97.45 ± 0.70%
	50	171	3.42		168	98.25
	50	199	3.98		193	96.98
1:23 h L:D	50	302	6.04	5.87 ± 0.36	299	99.0	97.93 ± 0.92%
	50	306	6.12		298	97.4
	50	273	5.46		266	97.4

Notes: Engorged females in the rearing system under two photoperiods were selected randomly and placed individually in each well of 96-well round bottomed ELISA plates. The numbers of eggs laid by each female were recorded as well as the development of eggs. The experiments were repeated in triplicate. The mites were observed every 24 h for one week. Oviposition and hatchability were calculated at day 7

ISSN: 1756-3305