Ecological studies on Ixodes (Afrixodes) matopi Spickett, Keirans, Norval & Clifford, 1980 (Acarina: Ixodidae)

Ixodes (Afrixodes) matopi occurs in association with the klipspringer (Oreotragus oreotragus) in rocky areas in Zimbabwe. The adult ticks are specific parasites of this antelope and the immature stages feed on klipspringers, hyraxes (Procavia capensis and Heterohyrax brucei) and red rock hares (Pronolagus crassicaudatus). Adults are active only in the wet season and prior to feeding are found on bushes growing adjacent to rocks. The ticks aggregate on twigs which have been marked with the secretions of the pre-orbital glands of klipspringers. Larvae are evident in greatest numbers in the latter part of the wet season and nymphs in the cool dry season. Unfed larvae and nymphs occur predominantly on mats of humid leaf litter in the cracks and gaps between rocks, and both show well defined patterns of daily activity.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 600dpi. Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format

Rhipicephalus zambeziensis sp. nov., a new tick from eastern and southern Africa, together with a redescription of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus Neumann, 1901 (Acarina, Ixodidae)

All stages of Rhipicephalus zambeziensis sp. nov. are described from laboratory-reared specimens of a strain originating from cattle near West Nicholson, Gwanda District, Zimbabwe. The redescription of all stages of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus is based primarily on laboratory-reared specimens of a strain originating from a mountain reedbuck (Redunca fulvorufula), Loskop Dam Nature Reserve, Transvaal, Republic of South Africa. The differences between these 2 species are discussed briefly. Details of the life cycle of R. zambeziensis under laboratory conditions are given, and attempts to cross-breed this species with R. appendiculatus are described and discussed.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 600dpi. Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format

The ecology of Rhipicephalus zambeziensis and Rhipicephalus appendiculatus (Acarina, Ixodidae) with particular reference to Zimbabwe

R. zambeziensis, like R. appendiculatus, is primarily a parasite of domestic and wild herbivores, and sometimes carnivores. Both species occur in parts of east, central and southern Africa, but they are not as a rule sympatric. In general, R. zambeziensis occurs in hotter, drier areas than does R. appendiculatus, especially along some of the great river valleys. In Zimbabwe, R. zambeziensis is largely restricted to the northern, northwestern and southern parts of the country, whereas R. appendiculatus is widely distributed in the eastern and southern areas.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 600dpi. Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format

Ixodes (Afrixodes) matopi n. sp. (Acarina: Ixodidae) : a tick found aggregating on pre-orbital gland scent marks of the klipspringer in Zimbabwe

Ixodes (Afrixodes) matopi n. sp. is described from females and males collected off twigs bearing deposits of intraspecific communication marks secreted by the pre-orbital glands of the klipspringer Oreotragus oreotragus and from laboratory-reared immature specimens. One female was also found on a goat. The 4 collections were all from Zimbabwe, 3 of them from Matabeleland South Province and the fourth from Inyanga District, Zimbabwe.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 600dpi. Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format