648 MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 



and more recently by Nuttall. Like all the others of the genus it 

 requires three host of the same or different species in order to complete 



its life history. It is easily reared, according to 



Nuttall, on a number of different hosts, such as the 

 African dog tick jackal, dog, ferret, hedgehog, goat and rabbit. The 



larva and nymph remain attached to the host 3 to 7 

 days (Nuttall) ; the female remains on the host from 8 to 16 days. 

 Oviposition begins from the 3rd to the 15th day after the female leaves 

 the host, the period depending on the temperature ; each female lays 

 from 2,400 to 4,800 eggs. This tick may be manipulated in the same 

 way as the other dog tick, Rhipicephalus sangnineiis (see page 642) ; 

 unlike most of the species of the genus it appears to be an active tick. 



Haemaphysalis punctata has recently attracted considerable attention 

 in England owing to the experiments of McFadyean and Stockman, who 



were able to transmit Piroplasma bigeminmn to cattle 

 punctate* k) T means of it. Its life history has been studied by 



these observers and by Nuttall. Its normal host 

 appears to be the sheep, though it occurs naturally on the hedgehog and 

 in the laboratory will feed on the rabbit. The larva remains on the host 

 from 4 to 7 days, the nymph for about a week and the female from 

 6 to 22 days. It may be manipulated without difficulty by using either 

 ear, scrotal or udder bags. 



Haemaphysalis bispinosa, a common cattle tick in India, nearly always 

 attaches itself about the head of its host. It is best manipulated by 



placing all the stages in ear bags, not in scrotal or 



udder bags ; the same applies to this species when the 



goat is used as a host. It is important to watch the 

 ticks when they are nearing repletion, for this species, more than any 

 other, may be readily lost or crushed. It is also found or the mongoose, 

 attached to the margins of the ears. When using this animal it should 

 be placed in one of the small cages, always taking the precaution to see 

 that the underpan is removed and that the bags are frequently changed ; 

 in the cages bispinosa never attempts to climb upwards, but is always 

 found on the cloth at the bottom. 



In Madras there are two other species of Haemaphysalis (at present 

 unidentified), one parasitic on the South Indian hare, Lepus nigricollis, 



and the other on the gerbil, Gerbillus indicns. The 

 on smal'l animals' ' C s P ec i es on tne hare is commonly infected with Cr it India 



haemaphysalidis, Patton. Hares should be kept in 

 the larger iron cages, taking care to handle them as little as possible, 



