I. nitens 



185 



15. IXODES NITENS Neumann, 1904. 



Fig. 178 (original). 

 Lit. : Neumann, 1904, pp. 459, 460 (no figure). 



Male: unknown. 



Female : Body short oval, narrower in front, broader towards the 

 posterior third, brownish, L. 25 to 3"5 mm., W. 15 to 19 mm. (partly 

 fed). Scutum oval-lozenge-shaped, with antero-lateral borders almost 

 straight, slightly emarginate, longer than wide (1 x 0'8 mm.), scapulae 

 pointed ; glossy ; cervical grooves obsolete, lateral grooves faintly 

 indicated ; some very sparse and very fine punctations in the anterior 

 angles. Dorsum bearing a very few short scattered hairs; marginal 

 groove shallow. Venter almost smooth ; vulva facing coxae IV ; 

 genital grooves straight and diverging; anal grooves rounded in 

 front of the anus, scarcely diverging. Spiracles small, oval, whitish. 

 Capitulum narrow, 750 fj, long ; base triangular, posterior border 

 concave, twice as long as broad dorsally ; auricula forming a flattened 

 retrograde horn pointing outward at 45°. Porose areas oval, separated, 

 broader than long. Hypostome long, narrow, sharp, with numerous 

 anterior denticles, then 3 1 3 followed by 2 j 2 rows of teeth. Palps 

 long, narrow, cultriform, the second article almost double the third. 

 Legs : coxa I with two spurs, the internal longer, scarcely reaching 

 to coxa II ; a very short spur externally on coxae II-IV. Tarsi long, 

 slender, tapering gradually ; pad almost as long as claws. 





Fig. 178. I. nitens ? : capitulum (mutilated) and scutum, capitulum in ventral aspect, 

 part of venter, spiracle, tarsus 4, anal groove. The figures to the left sketched, thosf 

 to the right drawn to scale. (Original, from the type, G. H. F. N. del.) 



Nymph: Similar to the ?, but genital pore and porose areas 

 absent. 



Our description differs somewhat from Neumann's. 



This species is based on two $ s and one o found on Mus macleari at 

 Christmas Island, Pacific Ocean (N. C. Rothschild coll.). Our figure is 

 drawn from a type in our possession (N. 360). 



N. I. 13 



