Symbiots of A. persicus have been described in some detail by 

 Cowdry (1925C,192Sa.,1927J and by Jaschke (1933). 



The subgenus Argas is tentatively defined as follows: 



'"Parasites chiefly of fowls, MorphologicsQ. characters entirely 

 of genus Argas. Sutural line (i.e. lateral groove) encircling body. 

 With a flattened body flange morphologically differentiated dorsal— 

 ly and ventrally by a row of quadrate cells or by fine striations 

 or wrinkles; body shape elongate. Integument finely wrinkled; 

 discs conspicuous, radially distributed; lacking ventral "paired 

 organ'". Hood lacking; mouthparts posterior of anterior body margin 

 by a distajice about equalling their own length. Legs moderate; 

 tarsal humps lacking"*, 



A, reflexus was designated as the type species of the genus 

 Argas^ by Latreille (1802) and is so considered by Cooley and Kohls 

 TOZZ) and by Pospelova-Shtrom (1946) /"Nuttall et al (1908) pre- 

 ferred to use A, persicus 7 , A. reflexus would , Therefore , also 

 be the type species of the subgenus Argas , 



The size of each stage and of each sex, engorged and iinengorged, 

 has been reported by Hooker, Bishopp, and Wood (1912) and by Campania- 

 Rouget (1954). 



IDENTIFICATION 



A, persicus is easily recognized by characters listed above 

 for the subgenus Argas , with the restriction that its dorsal and 

 ventral periphery is marked by a row of quadrate '"cells'* (fine 

 striations in A. reflexus ). 



The male is seldom over 5.0 mm, long and has a semicircular 

 genital aperture . The female neasures from 4.0 mm, to 11.0 ram, 

 long and has a narrow, transverse genital aperture. 



Nymphs are similar to adults except that they lack a genital 

 aperture although advanced instars may have a shallow depression 

 in its place. 



Larvae are nicely illustrated in variovis editions of £rumpt's 

 Precis . 



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