Ticks transmit diseases like piroplasmosis, theileria3is and anaplasmosis in livestock. They are responsible for great economic losses in terms of general unthriftiness, loss of condition and also damage to hides and skins. Pakistan being a tropical country provides optimal conditions for growth and multiplication of ticks. Despite this abundance in prevalence little systematic work was done to investigate the prevalence, taxonony and bionomics of species of genus Haemaplxysalis.

During this study numerous ticks from sheep, goat, cattle and buffaloes each were collected from Lahore and Sheikhupura districts. One species of genus Haemaphysalis i.e. Haemaphysalis brunati was recorded. Other species of same genus did not occur in these districts. This species was recorded from Lahore only. The percent incidence was 5.87%.

During the bionomical study various aspects like seasonal and regional abundance, life cycle, effect of temperature and humidity were studied. It was concluded that in one year three generations of Haemaphysalis bnmati occured in Lahore district . The ticks appeared on livestock in Narch and gradually increased during following months and reached its peak level in June. Then the population graph fell, until in last week of September when a minor peak was recorded. Subsequently the infestation receded considerably amongs livestock during October and was lowest in the end of November. No incidences were recorded from early December through late February.

During the morphological studies of Haemapltysalis brunati measurements of various parts of body were recorded and it was noticed that the measuremeni vary slightly in the species occuring in Lahore

The breeding habits and life cycle of Haemaphysalis brunati were studied under natural conditions and it was observed that the ticks mostly started depositing egg 19 days after dropping in spring, 18 days after dropping in summer and 7 days after dropping in autumn.

The oviposition period under natural conditions was found to be 12 days in spring, 11 days in summer and 11 days in autumn.

The average number of eggs laid by a single female tick in different seasons was not constant. In spring season average number of eggs deposited by single female tick was 3819 in summer 2786 and in autumn 2514. The eggs were oval in shape and measured 0.470 x 0.420 mm in size and weighed 0.041 mg on average. The incubation period of ova was found to vary in different seasons. In spring it was 20 days, 16 days in summer and 15 days in autumn.

The larvae survived without food and water for 56 days in spring. The larvae fully engorged in 9 days during spring, 7 days in summer and 6 days in autumn. The weight of unfed larvae was found to be 0.375 mg. and engorged larvae from 0.166 nlg. The total amount of blood sucked was estimated to be 0.129 mg. The fully engorged larvae moulted in 16 days during spring, II days during summer and 10 days during autumn. The newly moulted unfed txymph lived for 65 days in spring. The nymph engorged in 7 days during spring, in 6 days during summer and autumn. The weight of unfed nymph was found to be 0.114 mg and that of. engorged nymph was found to be 1.094 mg. The nymph moulted in 17 days during spring and in 9 days during summer and autumn.

The newly moulted female engorged within 9 days in spring, 8 days in summer and 4 days in autumn. The weight of unfed female was 1.695 mg and of engorged female 210.0 mg. The amount of blood sucked by a single female tick was estimated to be 208.36 mg. Amount of blood sucked by a single female during her entire life span was found to be 221.549 mg.

Influence of temperature and humidity on rate of development of Haemapbysalis brunati on preoviposition period, oviposition period, number of eggs laid, incubation period and peientage of hatchability were studied and it was observed that constant temperature and varying humidities had no significant effect on the said parameters whereas constant humidity and varying temperatures had a significant effect on the rate of development, preoviposition period, oviposition period, number of eggs laid, incubation period and percentage of hatchahility.