18 American Midland Naturalist Monograph No. 1 



length of the capitulum including the palpi. Basis capituli with its width 

 greater than its length; surface transversely wrinkled. Postpalpal hairs present, 

 about in line with the posthypostomal hairs. Entire length of article 1 of the 

 palpus in contact with the hypostome and with a knife-edge flange overlap- 

 ping it. 



Hypostome. — Sides a little tapering; apex notched. Larger denticles few in 

 number and arranged -/._>; smaller ones, in middle portion, arranged 3 '3- 

 Corona with very small denticles. Length of female hypostome 0.315 to 0.36; 

 male about 0.30. 



Camerostome. — Short, indefinite, and affording little protection for the 

 mouth parts. 



Sexual opening. — At the level of the intervals betweeen coxae I and II. 

 Anus. — In an elliptical pattern; placed nearly central. 



This species is readily separated from reflexus by having the hypo- 

 stome terminally notched, the margins with quadrangular cells in place of 

 striae, and postpalpal hairs present. 



GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION 



Argas persicus occurs in Europe, Asia, Africa, America, and Australia. 

 In general it is restricted to the warm, dry regions. 



Bishopp (1927) stated that 



The present distribution of the tick in the United States may be said to extend 

 throughout the western three-fourths of Texas, from approximately the longitude or 

 Dallas, westward; the southern half of New Mexico and Arizona; southwestern 

 Oklahoma; three-fourths of southwestern California; and the major part of Florida. 

 During the last few years it appears that the pest has extended ils range northward 

 in the Sacramento Valley of California a considerable distance, as R. W. Wells has 

 found it to be firmly established in Shasta County. * * * The tick has undoubtedly 

 been shipped with fowls into many parts of the United States and specimens have been 

 taken in States as far removed from the normally infested areas as Iowa. It has not 

 established itself generally, however, in the more humid and cooler parts of the 

 country. It has been thought that the tick would not become a pest in such regions 

 and in the higher mountain areas, but its continued spread indicates that it has consider- 

 able adaptability, and that it will ultimately infest a much larger part of the country 

 than it does at present. 



The map showing the distribution of Argas persicus is after Bishopp 

 (1927) with the following records added: 



California. 17556, nesting hole of Inyo screech owl, Olus asio inyioensis, Inyo 

 County, December 1940, 5 nymphs, also 1 nymph of Argas columbarum (Kenneth E. 

 Stager). 



Georgia. 42331 B. A. I., Callus clomestitus, chicken house, Feb. 18, 1936, Atlanta, 

 16 specimens (W. R. Baynes). 



Louisiana. 30307 B. A. I., host not stated, Oct. 27, 1940, Jeanerette, few speci- 

 mens (C. W. Rees). 



Nevada. Many specimens without host or date, Reno (S. B. Doten). Record from 

 U. S. National Museum. 



