Observations on the Subgenus Argas (Ixodoidea: Argasidae: Argas). 12. 'Argas (A.) africolumbae': Variation, Bird Hosts, and Distribution in Kenya, Tanzania, and South and South-West Africa.

摘要

Argas (A.) africolumbae type material was from a hospital and a house with nests of the Cape Rock Pigeon in 2 localities and from a granite outcrop with Bald Ibis nests in a 3rd locality of Transvaal, South Africa. Subsequent collections recorded here are from 1 locality in South-West Africa, 4 in Eastern and Rift Valley Provinces of Kenya, and 8 in Mwanza, Shinyanga, and Mara Regions of Tanzania. Newly recorded or confirmed hosts are the African Rock Martin (2 subspp.), Red-rumped Swallow, Striped Swallow, Tropical Cliff Chat, and Speckled Pigeon and/or Red-winged Starling. The ticks rest within or near the stick or mud nests of these birds in buildings (houses, hospital) or against rock faces of cliffs or caves and feed only or chiefly during the host nesting season. Notable differences are observed in size of individual adults and larvae in population samples from large-sized and small-sized hosts; larval setal counts and measurements also differ in host-related samples. In preliminary studies of the life cycle (using domestic pigeons as hosts), more than 10 months elapsed between the final of 2 female blood meals and oviposition.