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October, 1992 <br /> News Release <br /> Page 2 <br /> Syed Bokhari <br /> When the eggs hatch, the young ticks, or larvae, attach <br /> themselves to poultry. They gather in places where feathers are <br /> sparse--under wings and on thighs and neck. They remain on the <br /> fowls about a week, sucking blood. Then they drop off at night, <br /> while the fowls are on the roost, and seek a hiding place. They <br /> are about 1/10 inch long and are blue or purplish. <br /> After a few days, the larvae molt to the next stage: They <br /> become nymphs. The nymphs also attach themselves to fowls, and <br /> feed; but they remain attached only a few minutes at a time. <br /> After each feeding, they drop off and seek a hiding place. Each <br /> nymph feeds two or three times, and molts several days after each <br /> meal. After the final molt, the ticks become adults. Adults <br /> feed several times, for a few minutes each time, and females lay <br /> eggs after each meal. The female may lay up to 900 eggs in a <br /> number of batches. Adults are 1/5 to nearly 1/2 inch long. <br /> HOW TO DETECT THEM <br /> Fowl ticks are not easily noticed because adults and nymphs <br /> hide during the day in cracks and crevices of poultry houses and <br /> come out only at night to suck blood. <br /> Usually you don't know they are around until your flock ' <br /> shows marked symptoms of attack. <br /> It is easier to look for masses of ticks in cracks and <br /> rough spots, or under loose pieces of bark or boards about the <br /> MORE. . . <br />