MOSQUITOES

 Dense populations of mosquitoes
feeding on the blood of cattle may
affect efficiency of meat and milk
production. Life cycles of mosquitoes
vary greatly, depending on the type
of mosquito and the environment. The
female lays eggs on water or in areas
subject to flooding. Eggs usually
hatch in 2 or 3 days if water is
present. The larval and pupal stages
also develop in water. The larval
stage lasts about a week. Pupae
generally change into adults in 2-3
days.
 The best control method is to
eliminate or minimize water-holding
areas. If you cannot get rid of
water containing mosquito larvae,
either add top-feeding minnows
(Gambusia) or apply oils as a larvi-
cide.

 You can control adults with
residual sprays or with fogs. Use
them in mosquito resting areas, such
as open barns and sheds, weeds, grass,
trees and shrubbery.
CATTLE TICKS

 Ticks are important parasites
of cattle because they can transmit
several blood diseases such as piro-
plasmosis. In addition loss of blood
and injection of toxins during tick
feeding affect animal health, weight
gains, and milk production.

 There are two kinds of ticks:
hard ticks and soft ticks. Hard
ticks have a hard covering over much
of the body. Their mouthparts are
visible when you look at the tick
from above. Soft ticks have a
leathery body covering. Their mouth
parts are not generally visible from


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LIFE CYCLE


above.
 Hard ticks usually live in un-
protected environments, such as
fields or brushy woodlots. Soft
ticks are most often found in animal
burrows or in cracks and crevices of
animal houses. Soft ticks may have
several nymphal stages while hard
ticks have only one. Larvae have
6 legs, nymphs and adults have 8
legs. The life cycle of ticks varies
in length from several months to
6-8 years, depending unon the avail-
ability of hosts. Females begin
egg-laying within 3 days to 3 weeks
after feeding. Eggs are laid under
leaves or other debris and hatch
within 30 days. The larvae climb