years ny records did not show R. evertsi immatures on any hosts 

 (other than herbivores) , except a^ an incidental infestation 

 perhaps; then last year (1950) we recorded heavy infestations 

 among all species of hares in the East London district," 



Details of the life cycle and periods of survival have been 

 frequently reported by various South African workers beginning 

 with Dixon and Spruell (I898). As noted by Theiler (1943B) these 

 periods are: 



PERICD DAYS 



Oviposition to hatching 28 to 70 



Larvae and nymphs on host 10 to 15 



Nymphal premolting period L^ to 56 



Female feeds 6 to 10 



Preoviposition period 6 to 24 



Total 92 to 175 



The periods between larval hatching and feeding and between 

 adult emergence and feeding and oviposition are not stated. 



When larvae molt, they loosen their hold on the host. Nymphs 

 reattach nearby on the same animal. Nymphs drop from the host 

 when engorged and molt to adults on the ground. Adults mate on 

 the host. 



Unfed larvae svirvive for seven months and unfed advilts sm*- 

 Vive twice as long. 



Ecology 



Adults attach almost invariably in the perianal region under 

 the base of the tail, less coranonly on the teats, at the base of 

 the legs, or on the scrotum. Larvae and nymphs cluster deep in 

 the depressions of the inner ear svrrface especially at the base 

 of the avtrictila; rarely on the host's flanks. (For comparison, im- 

 mature B. decoloratus and R. appendiculatus usually attach along 

 the edge of the ear j . All""autnors and our own observations are 

 in agreement on these feeding-site predilections. It appears 



-6^9- 



