Question

What is the significance of Haemaphysalis longicornis?.

Answer 1

1. Haemaphysalis longicornis is an essential vector of zoonotic agents and can transmit severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus and bacteria.
2. it exhibits two reproductive populations: bisexual and obligate parthenogenetic populations. Comparing the morphology of the two populations revealed that parthenogenetic individuals except for engorged females are significantly greater in weight than bisexual individuals, the genital apron of parthenogenetic females is wider than that of bisexual females and the Haller’s organ of parthenogenetic individuals has no seam hole structure.
3. the bisexual and parthenogenetic Haemaphysalis longicornis are diploid and triploid, respectively.
4. Parthenogenetic Haemaphysalis longicornis can complete their life-cycle without fertilization, without any males being observed throughout the life-cycle and they show strict reproductive isolation from the bisexual population. The feeding period of parthenogenetic females is significantly shorter than that of bisexual females due to this unique reproductive behaviour.
5. But the developmental cycle of parthenogenetic individuals is a slightly longer than that of bisexual individuals, including nymphal premolting, preoviposition, oviposition and egg incubation periods.
6. But the egg weight of the parthenogenetic population is greater than that of the bisexual population.