Cooley & Kohls: Argasidae of N. America, etc. 5 



DENTICLES: The "teeth" on the ventral side of the hypostome. Usually arranged in 

 parallel, longitudinal rows or files. They may be only slight elevations or they 

 may be definitely raised, sharp, recurved and with distinct "over-hang" which 

 makes them more effective in clinging to the host. 



Depletion : A term applied to the progressive changes within each stage, between 

 feedings, in nymphs and adults of the Argasidae. When fully fed, many species 

 are much distended and as depletion progresses the shape, color, depth of grooves, 

 elevation of folds, and the appearance of the mammillae are affected making it 

 difficult to recognize or adequately describe some species. The shape changes 

 progressively from "rotund" to "flat" without greatly changing the length and 

 width and the grooves become more pronounced. The dorsal surface may even 

 become concave. In a few species (notably Antricola coprophtlus) the shape may 

 become much distorted. In distended specimens the mammillae may become much 

 flattened and show only as sclerotized spots. Some grooves may disappear com- 

 pletely and reappear during depletion. The folds usually persist through complete 

 feeding but sometimes become difficult to see. See "Color. 



Discs: Limited areas or spots which are the external evidence of modification of the 

 structure of the body wall at the points of attachment of the dorso-ventral 

 muscles. They are usually in a nearly symmetrical pattern and may or may not 

 be evident on the venter. They vary structurally in the numerous species and 

 may be superficial or depressed, faint, or distinct. The authors piefer to accept 

 the term "disc" as appropriate in defining any structural modification of the 

 body wall at the points of attachment of dorso-ventral muscles. The "obvious 

 discs," "foveolae," "pits," "scutella," and "patellae" of some authors. Fig. 1, A. 



Dorsal Humps: Humps or elevations on the dorsal walls of the articles of the legs 

 and not including the subapical dorsal protuberance. Fig. 1, D and E. 



Dorsal Plate: The unwrinkled spot in or near the middle of the dorsum in some 

 larvae. Examples are fig. 35, G and fig. 51, G. 



Dorsum: The entire dorsal surface in contra-distinction to the venter. 



Folds: Constant ridges of the integument found on the venter in Argasidae and, like 

 grooves, much influenced by the degree of engorgement. Fig. 1, B. 



Frame of THE Anus: The continuous circular or oval ring which encloses the 

 eversible flaps of the anus. 



Granulations: Irregular elevations on the surface of the integument in adults of 

 Otobius, in contra-distinction to tubercles in Anlricola and mammillae in Orm- 

 thodoros, and "elevations" or wrinkles in Argas. Also used in describing the 

 very small elevations, similar to micromammillae, found in some species. 



GROOVES: Lineal depressions or furrows, mainly on the ventral surface. Their depths 

 and widths are much influenced by the degree of engorgement. See Fig. 1, B. 



Hairs: Hairs found on the body or appendages of the Argasidae have been spoken 

 of by authors as barbed, clubbed, truncated spines, or simple hairs. In the 

 descriptions the authors have disregarded for the most part the character of 

 the hairs or spines because more useful characters are available. 



HoOD : The anterior projection of the integument forming in part the walls of the 

 camerostome, if present. Fig. 1 , A, B and C. 



HvPOSTOME : The median ventral mouth part which is immovably attached to the 

 basis capituli and usually bearing "teeth" or denticles. The dentition is indicated 

 by numerals either side of a line. Thus 3|3 means that there are three longi- 

 tudinal files on each half of the hypostome. Measurements are made from the 

 posthypostomal hairs to the anterior extremity. Fig. 1 , F. 



Legs: The sequence of the legs from anterior to posterior is indicated in Roman 

 numerals, thus, I, II, III, and IV. Fig. 1, D and E. 



Mammillae: Elevations of various forms found on the integument in OrnithoJoros 

 in contra-distinction to the granulations in Otobius, tubercles in Antricola, and 

 "elevations" or wrinkles in Argas. Previous authors have used the term to 

 designate the conical or hemispherical elevations found especially in such species 



