Amblyongna nymphs to support a morphological theory). The concep- 

 tion of a separate species with unique "half_endoparasitic'* habits 

 is not supported by field and laboratory observations. In several 

 Hyalomma species observed in Egypt, long-feeding immature stages 

 become overgrov/n by the host skin. Poorly developed adult " Hyalom - 

 minas " resxilt from these nymphs. If removed early enough, such 

 nymphs may molt into typical though frail adults of recognized 

 species with or without subanal shields. Other larvae and nymphs 

 that attach to the ears, which do not react to the engorging 

 ticks by producing a large amount of tissue, usually develop 

 normally. 



On the basis of many such variants among specimens of H. 

 excavatum examined for the present study it is apparent that 

 Delpy's (19A9B) synonyuy of H. rhipicephaloides under H. exca - 

 vatum is correct. 



H. lewisi Schulze, 1936, from tropical Africa is the result 

 of similar misinterpretation of H. truncatum by Schulze and his 

 students. 



In the present collection, a few specimens of H. trunc atum 

 are poorly developed and lack subanal shields. The"se are similar 

 to specimens (in the Rocky Mountain Laboratory) determined by 

 Schulze as H. lewisi from Kenya and Tanganyika. There is no 

 question but that H. lewisi is a synon;yTn of H. truncatum . 

 Delpy (19^9B), probably inadvertently, listed K. lewisl ~as a 

 synonym of H. excavatum . Kratz {l9J+o) retained H. lewisi in 

 the "subgenus Hyalomnilna " even though he noted t"Hat "some spec- 

 imens retained subanal shields while others lacked therf*. 



With regard to H. hussaini Sharif, 1928, the Rocky Mountain 

 Laboratory collections contain enough constant specimens of this 

 species (described below) from India to indicate beyond a doubt 

 that H. hussaini is a valid species. It is coincidental that 

 this "species conforms to the criteria proposed for the subgenus 

 Hyalommina ; H« hussaini rather than H. rhipicephaloides ndght, 

 therefore, be considered as the type^species of this subgenus. 

 The absence of subanal shields apparently has become a genetically- 

 established character in Indian populations. As stated below, 

 other constant male and female characters also validate this spe:- 



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