Artificial feeding of Amblyomma cajennense (Fabricius, 1787) (Acari: Ixodidae) through silicone membrane

An artificial feeding system was rued where citrated bovine blood was offerred to male and female Amblyomma cajennense. Vestiges of blood sweat, hair and exfoliated skin were used as phago-stimulants placed on the surface of the silicons membrane. The rick were collected, as engorged nymphs, from naturally infested equines, with the ecdysis occurring in the laboratory. Four hundred ticks were used 50% being female, at three to four weeks post-ecdysis. Vestiges of blood on the silicone membrane were the most efficient phago-stimulant and the association of vestiges of blood and sweat residue smears yielded better results compared to the other phago-stimulants used.