BIOLOGY 



The pigeon tick may remain vmfed in or near pigeon houses for 

 many months, or even for several years (Nuttall _et al 1908, I4ayer 

 ajnd Madel 1950). Feeding is much like that of A, persicus , vhich 

 attacks poultry, ajid is accomplished at night, "Domestic chickens 

 are apparently considerably less liable to attack by A. reflexus 

 than are pigeons. Hiding places of these ticks are easily found 

 in the cracks and crevices of pigeon cotes. The life cycle ap- 

 pears to be much like that of A, persicus . Restrictive and opti- 

 Dium biological and climatic factors have not yet been reported in 

 literature. Females feed prior to oviposition, but according to 

 Schulze (19A-3B), males require only a single blood meal annvially. 



During the larval stage there is no urinary or fecal excretion 

 (Enigk and Grittner 1952), Nymphs ajid adults immediately after 

 feeding discharge a mixture of urine and feces, followed by fvirther 

 excretion the following day. The simultaneous deposition of urine 

 and feces causes the rapid formation of a '"guanocrystal"' in the 

 viscous mass, thus frequently leaving a white center of irrine sur- 

 rounded by a dark fecal ring on the surfaces on which the substance 

 has been deposited. (Note: Compare this type of excretion with 

 that of Ornithodoros moubata ). Adults deposit only vu^ine for some 

 two weeks after feeding, then at long intervals a mixture of feces 

 and urine. Four weeks after feeding, females begin oviposition, 

 during which time no excretion is seen, Goxal fluid is seldom 

 voided during feeding, but usually begins only following complete 

 engorgement (Zuelzer 1920B, and our own observations). 



DISEASE REUTIONS 



MAN: Human beings who venture near occupied or long abandoned 

 pigeon houses are readily attacked, and the ticks may invade nearby 

 human habitations after pigeons have left their usual resting places. 

 Pain or irritation may be felt for years after the pigeon argas has 

 bitten. This species is incapable of transmitting spirochetes of 

 African tick- borne relapsing fever (Borrelia duttonii ), 



PIGEONS: Squabs are especially susceptible to bites of this 

 tick and adults too may suffer to the point of death by exsanguina- 

 tion when their houses are heavily infested. The pigeon argas is 

 of negligible importance in the transmission of Salmonella bacteria 

 among pigeons but does transmit fowl spirochetosis, B, anserina 

 (= B, gallinarum ). It is said to be probably capable of transmitting 

 fowT piroplasmosis (Ae^yptianella pullorum ), 



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