38 



Genus Argas 



palps short, thick, with articles scarcely longer than broad, excepting 

 the first ; each article bears 4 short denticulated hairs dorsally ; two long 

 post-hypostomal hairs, two shorter post-palpal hairs more posterior. 

 Legs thick sub-equal ; coxae contiguous ; tarsi tapering, tarsus I alone 

 showing a slight dorsal protuberance. In some of the large 2nd stage 

 nymphs we have examined there existed an imperfect sexual orifice. 



Fig. 57. Argas vespertilionis. Larva: A. hypostome, x575; B. digit, x865; C. dorsal 

 plate, xllO; D. anus, x370 (Nn. 1896, fig. 26). 



Larva (Figs. 57 A-D) : Body short oval, 1*3 x 1 mm. or 2 x 1'5 mm. 

 Some ten radiating furrows on the posterior half of the dorsum. 

 Integument with fine transverse parallel folds except on an oval 

 squamous shield anterior to the middle of the dorsum. Three pairs 

 of hairs on the anterior part of the dorsum. Twenty marginal hairs. 

 Radiating series of discs between the intestinal caeca. Gapitulum 

 almost entirely visible dorsally. Hypostome narrow, long, pointed ; 

 dentition 4 | 4. Palps slender, article 1 nearly as wide as long, articles 2, 

 3, and 4 twice as long as wide ; article 4 small. Hairs on the basis 

 capituli as in the nymph, but short. Legs slender, sub-equal ; coxae 

 nearly contiguous, elongated, a broad interval between the coxae of the 

 two sides. 



Neumann's description of the nymph is based on three specimens, 

 one in the possession of M. Julien (Paris), and two specimens of the 

 " Blyborough tick " from R. Blanchard. The ticks were taken from 

 Vesperugo pipistrellus. 



