Progress in the development of a simple life cycle model, with both deterministic and stochastic components for the brown ear tick, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus Neuman (Acarina: Ixodidae), is described. Control strategies or interventions that are user-manipulated are incorporated.
The model is initially applicable to Rusinga Island, Lake Victoria, Kenya, where parasitic phase data have been accumulated for a 30-months' period, but could be used for any other R. appendiculatus locations.