The behaviour of Boophilus microplus larvae in pasture of Brachiaria decumbens with different days of resting for cattle feeding was observed at Embrapa Dairy Cattle, Coronel Pacheco, MG, Brazil. Groups with five calves 7/8 Holstein x Zebu which were exposed to paddocks with 100 x 20m and resting feeding period of 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 days during 72 hours. After this time, calves were removed and housing. After the fifteenth day they were kept in individual boxes appropriate for tick collection. Results indicated that at least 60 days of paddock resting are necessary for reduction in the infesting larvae population and recommend this handling practice to be used as a complementary measure for tick control. Data were submitted to polynomial regression. A period of 82.6 days was estimated for a complete cleaning of the pasture.
Boophilus microplus; larvae; behaviour; Brachiaria decumbens
