%\\t ^mmim\ ^wtmtfk^hi 



Vol. XLII. LONDON, JULY, 1910. No. 7. 



NOTE ON THE FINDING OF H^MAPHYSALIS PUNCTATA 



AT WINNIPEG, MANITOBA. 



BY SEYMOUR HADWEN, 

 First Asst. Pathologist, Dominion Department of Agriculture. 



In August, 1909, I was given two female ticks (taken from a steer) 

 which had been collected by Dr. Hobbs, of Winnipeg ; these ticks proved 

 to be identical with some females sent in a year previously to the 

 Biological Laboratory by Dr. C. D. McGillivray, also from Winnipeg. At 

 that time it was thought that they might prove to be Boophilus annnlaius. 

 After examining the ticks, I had no hesitation in deciding that they 

 belonged to the genus Hceviaphysalis^ that probably the species was new 

 to North America and might prove to be a carrier of Red-water. As far 

 as I am aware only two species of Hcemaphysalis have been described in 

 North America, i.e.: Hamaphysalis leporis palustris and H. chordeilis. 

 (Banks, Revision of the Ixodoidea of the U. S., 1908.) 



On obtaining permission from the Veterinary Director General, I 

 forwarded drawings, also specimens, together with a description, to 

 Professor Nuttall, of Cambridge, who was kind enough to identify the 

 specimens, and has replied, saying the tick is a female Hcemaphysalis 

 punctata. 



According to Nuttall, H. punctata has only been recorded once 

 before in America, by C. L. Koch, at Para, Brazil, in 1847. (?) He 

 described it as H. cinnabarma. 



I have no need to point out the importance of this finding, and to the 

 possibility of this tick transmitting Red-water ( Piroplasmosis bovis) to 

 Canadian cattle, as it has been proved to do in England and elsewhere. 

 As the tick is a three-host tick, its eradication will be a most difficult 

 matter. 



I append the description I sent to Professor Nuttall, and below it a 

 condensed description taken for comparison from Parasitology, Vol. I, 

 No. 2, June, 1903. 



Hcemaphysalis. — Description sent to Professor Nuttall : Female 

 gorged ; colour greenish-gray in fresh specimen, brown-red in alcohol. 

 Scutum and legs brown ; capitulum broader than long ; hypostome. 



