Table 1 Short read statistics for evolutionary conserved and novel tick-specific R. microplus miRNAs

A) Life cycle stages

Eggs

4,215,404

8,775

868

9,643

Larvae

3,964,440

732,690

39,959

772,649

Frustrated Larvae

5,473,363

628,561

31,617

660,178

Female

4,248,307

996,324

1,398

997,722

Male

4,071,427

344,877

683

345,560

sub total

21,972,941

2,711,227

74,525

2,785,752

B) Female tick organs

Gut

3,501,156

413,240

1,028

414,268

Salivary glands

4,579,483

257,096

1,898

258,994

Ovaries

5,206,221

120,485

2,833

123,318

sub total

13,286,860

790,821

5,759

796,580

Total

35,259,801

3,501,629

80,287

3,582,332