Batches of engorged Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks (females, nymphs and larvae) were placed in gauze-covered vials in the field at monthly intervals and left to complete development. The ticks were placed in open areas and tree shaded areas; the latter being consistently cooler.
The duration of development varied seasonally and was inversely related to environmental temperature. The mean time to oviposition ranged from 5 days during the hot dry season to 25 days during the cool dry season. There was a high larval mortality during the larval to nymphal moult. However, the available data shows that the mean time to larval–nymphal moult ranged from less than 2 weeks during the hot dry season to 7 weeks in the cool season. The mean time to nymphal–adult moult ranged from less than 3 weeks in the hot season to over 13 weeks in the cool dry season. Egg hatching ranged between 3 weeks in the hot dry season and 15 weeks in the cool dry season.
