The trial was conduced in The Zona da Mata region of Minas Gerais State, Brazil, to estimate the infesting power of the Boophilus microplus larvae in the three main ecological systems to the development and surviving of the cattie tick in the region: a) composed by Melinis minutiflora grass in the slope; b) composed by Brachiaria decumbens grass in the slope, replacing M. minutiflora and c) composed by Brachiaria mutica grass in the valley. Parcels of each grass (18m² ) was monthly infested which approximately 200 larvae/m², day zero, and pastured by two calvos (16 hs.) at 7 th, 15 th, 30 th, 45 th, 60 th, 75 th, and 90 th day. The infesting power of the larvae was estimated by the number of the engorged females recovered multiplica by two. It was necessary a minimum period of pasture spelling of 60 day s in average to significantly reduce the larval population, in order to use this practice as an advice in the integrated control of the cattle tick in the region, only considering the larvae infesting power.
Boophilus microplus; tick biology; infesting power; pasture infestation
