RODEITriA (rodents) 



The paucity of tick specimens from Equatoria Province rodents 

 is of particular interest since several thousand savannah-inhabiting 

 rodents were examined under conditions most likely to retain ecto- 

 parasites and reveal them after sacrificing the animals. Many 

 rodents found to be infested in Equatoria Province are from the 

 limited collections from mountains and high altitijde forests, 

 riparian brush and forests, and stands of trees and shrubs in 

 and about villages. In other parts of East Africa, findings have 

 been similar relative to rate and type of infestation of rodents. 

 Although African rodents are generally reputed to harbor nimerous 

 ticks, it appears evident that a large number of savannah species 

 do not conform with this generalization. The ubiquitous field 

 rodents such as Arvicanthis and Lemniscomys are frequently para- 

 sitized by the nest-inhabiting immature stages of H. 1. leachii 

 and R. J. simus but seldom by other ticks. "" ~ 



Theiler*s (1949C) observations in South Africa are similar. 

 She reports: "It has always been taken for granted that the 

 nuraeroxis species of our field mice serve to feed the immature 

 stages of all those ticks of which the adults only are to be 

 found on our domestic stock. Thus far the tick survey, in it- 

 self still very incomplete, does not bear out this assumption. 

 Our field mice are extraordinarily free of parasites - as I know 

 from personal trapping experience and as Dr. Roberts and Mr. 

 Davis will bear me out. The numbers present on individual mice, 

 and on the mouse po puliation in general, in no way correspond with 

 the number of ad\alts found on the large herbivores and carnivores". 



It is significant that in desert and semidesert areas from 

 northern Africa to the Far East where Hyalomma and Ornithodoros 

 ticks are common, rodents are the most important hosts of im- 

 mature stages of both genera and also of adult Ornithodoros . 



FAMILY SCIURIDAE 



HELIOSCIURUS GAMBIANUS HOOGSTRAALI Setzer, 195U. Hoogstraal»s 

 Gambian Tree Squirrel. 



Ticks are rare on tree squirrels and the two male R.J. 

 sanguineus on hosts at Ikoto and Torit were taken in close"" 



proximity of villages. 



_ 791 - 



