Infestation of Human Habitations (Africa) 



African records of A. persicxxs in huts of indigenous people 

 (inferred presence of chickens in some huts) are: Annecke and 

 Ciuinn (1952) for South Africa, Drake-Brockman (1913) for SomalL. 

 land, Sergent and Foley (1919,1922,1939^ for Algeria, and Sudan 

 records above. Lounsbury (19038) stated that the fowl tick seldom 

 occurs in South African houses unless chickens are kept close by. 



BIOLOGY 



Life Cycle 



Among the many references to some phase or other in the life 

 cycle of A, persicus, some of the more important are: Lounsbury 

 (1903B) for South Africa, Nuttall et al (1908) for laboratory 

 observations, Olenev (l92aA) for t"ne Saratov area of Russia, Roveda 

 (1940,1950) for Argentina, Bodenheimer (1934) on temperature and 

 humidity tolerance, and Zuelzer (l920A,B,192l) on feeding, excre- 

 tion, and life cycle. Hooker, Bishopp, and Wood (1912) contributed 

 a detailed study of the life cycle in southern United States and 

 reviewed earlier literature. These authors also provided data on 

 growth and size of the fowl tick. 



The life cycle in general under favorable conditions requires 

 about four months. 



Larvae attach usually to the base of the host's wing. They 

 feed there for five to ten days before dropping from the host and 

 seeking shelter. Nymphs and adults become satiated in from five 

 minutes to two hours and then seek a sheltered place iri the build- 

 ing, yard, or tree in which they secrete themselves. Feeding is 

 usually done at night, sometimes in subdued light, seldom if ever 

 in strong light. 



Coxal fluid is emitted within a few minutes after engorgement 

 is complete and often while the tick is stationary or moving about 

 the host, but only infrequently while the ncuthparts aj-e still ia. 

 serted in the host's skin. 



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