Two new species of ticks from southern Africa whose adults parasitize the feet of ungulates : Rhipicephalus lounsburyi n. sp. and Rhipicephalus neumanni n. sp. (Ixodoidea, Ixodidae)

Theiler & Robinson (1953) described, as Rhipicephalus follis Dönitz, 1910, a tick species originating from Dordrecht, Eastern Cape Province. A comparison of this tick with the syntypes of R. follis has now shown, though, that these 2 entities are different and it is therefore redescribed below as Rhipicephalus lounsburyi n. sp. Its adults parasitize sheep and various wild ungulates, attaching primarily on their feet. The hosts of the immature stages are still unknown. It has now been recorded from several places in the Eastern Cape; once in Natal, at Impendle, and in the Western Cape near Swellendam and between Clanwilliam and Graafwater. A second species, which has in the past been confused with the dassie parasite, Rhipicephalus distinctus Bedford, 1932, is described as Rhipicephalus neumanni n. sp. Its adults also attach on the feet of sheep and goats. The hosts of the immature stages are unknown. It has been widely recorded in the Bethanien and Keetmanshoop Districts of Namibia and, in South Africa, from scattered localities in the Karoo.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.mn201

A review of the ixodid ticks (Acari, Ixodidae) occurring in southern Africa

Eighty-three species of ixodid ticks, as well as several entities that have yet to be described, occur in the Republic of South Africa plus the 4 independent states lying within its borders (Bophuthatswana, Venda, Transkei and Ciskei) and in Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland. They belong to the following genera: Amblyomma (8 spp.); Aponomma (3 spp.); Boophilus (2 spp.); Cosmiomma (1 sp.); Dermacentor (1 sp.); Haemaphysalis (10 spp.); Hyalomma (2 spp., one of them with 2 subspp.) ; Ixodes (25 spp.); Margaropus (1 sp.); Rhipicentor (2 spp.), and Rhipicephalus (28 spp.). The history of tick research in this region is reviewed briefly and advances made by the major contributors to our knowledge are highlighted. Short comments on each genus are given. These are followed by information on every species known to occur in the region, presented under the following headings: Species diagnosis, under which references to relevant descriptions are listed and, where appropriate, notes on commonly used synonyms, related species and identification problems are included; hosts, indicating whenever possible the preferences of both the adults and the immature stages, as well as differentiating between common and incidental hosts, and distribution in terms of political (not ecological) divisions.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.mn201

Margaropus wileyi sp. nov. (Ixodoidea, Ixodidae), a new species of tick from the reticulated giraffe

Descriptions are given of the male and female of Margaropus wileyi sp. nov. collected from the reticulated giraffe in Kenya. A key is given to the three species now known in the genus Margaropus and their differential diagnosis is discussed.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 300dpi. Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format

Records of the bont tick, Amblyomma hebraeum, from the angulate tortoise, Chersina angulata, and the leopard tortoise, Geochelone pardalis

A. hebraeum nymphae were found on 4 angulate tortoises and 13 leopard tortoises in the Addo Elephant National Park, Eastern Cape Province. Adults of this species were collected for the 1st time from a leopard tortoise in the Mkuze Game Reserve, Natal. The significance of this finding, in relation to the normal host preferences of this tick, is briefly 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.am201

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

Rhipicephalus aquatilis sp. nov. (Acari: Ixodidae), a new tick species parasitic mainly on the sitatunga, Tragelaphus spekei, in East and Central Africa

This tick, originally referred to as Rhipicephalus species Ill by Yeoman & Walker (1967), was first collected from a sitatunga, Tragelaphus spekei, and then occasionally from cattle, in Tanzania. Further collections, mostly from sitatunga, have since been seen from Uganda and Zambia. Descriptions of the adults of this species are given, together with information on their hosts and their distribution.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.National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute.mn201

Rhipicephalus interventus sp. nov. (Acari: Ixodidae), a new tick species closely related to Rhipicephalus tricuspis Dönitz, 1906 and Rhipicephalus lunulatus Neumann, 1907, from East and Central Africa

Descriptions of the adults of this new species are given, together with information on its hosts and distribution. Previously it was referred to briefly by Walker, Keirans, Pegram & Clifford (1988), who noted that in many respects it is intermediate in appearance between R. tricuspis and R. lunulatus.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.National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute.mn201

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

Ixodes (Afrixodes) neitzi, n. sp. (Acarina :Ixo didae) from the mountain reedbuck in South Africa

Ixodes (Afrixodes) neitzi n. sp. is described from females and males collected from the mountain reedbuck (Redunca fulvorufula) at Loskop Dam Nature Reserve, Transvaal, Republic of South Africa. Information is provided to distinguish this new species from other closely related Ixodes species that occur in the Ethiopian region. Its predilection sites are noted and the area in which it occurs is described briefly.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 300dpi. Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format

Clarification of the status of Rhipicephalus kochi Dönitz, 1905 (Ixodoidea, Ixodidae)

Figures of the types of Rhipicephalus kochi, and of its synonym Rhipicephalus neavei Warburton, 1912, are presented. These are accompanied by complete descriptions of all stages of R. kochi, illustrated with scanning electron microscope photographs. The basic differences between this species, Rhipicephalus pravus Dönitz, 1910 and Rhipicephalus punctatus Warburton, 1912 are outlined. R. kochi occurs south of the Equator in parts of eastern, central and southern Africa. Its adults feed most commonly on cattle, various antelopes and wild pigs, and on hares. Little is known about the hosts of the immature stages; nymphae have been recorded in a field collection once only, from Petrodromus tetradactylus, the 4-toed elephant shrew.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