328 Appendix II [50] 



The larvae of remain attached to the host for 



A. persicus 5 and 10 days in warm and cool weather respectively (Nuttall). 



A. reflexus 7 days (Brumpt, 1910, p. 528). 



A. vespertilionis Some days at least (Nuttall) 1 . 



0. megnini 5 days (but they stay on as nymphs upon the host). 



The first stage nymphs of 



A. persicus 1J-2 hours (Nuttall). 



0. moubata 10 minutes-1 hour (Nuttall). 



O. megnini 35-98 days, or more (Hooker) ; abandons the host as a late stage 



nymph and does not attack a host as an adult. 



The later .stage nymphs 

 and adults of 



A. persicus 5 minutes-2 hours (Nuttall). (Usually less than J hour.) 



A. reflexus 20-27 minutes (Alt, Boschulte). 



O. moubata 20 minutes-2 hours (Nuttall). 



O. coriaceus 45 minutes-1^ hours (Nuttall). 



O. turicata Feed more rapidly than the last (Nuttall). 



O. tholozani 30 minutes (Me'gnin). 



O. lahorensis 25 minutes-2J hours (Nuttall). 



O. savignyi Feed like O. moubata (Nuttall). 



We may divide the ticks above enumerated into three classes, 

 according to their biology : 



Group 1. A. persicus, reflexus, and vespertilionis. 



„ 2. 0. moubata and savignyi. 



„ 3. O. megnini. 



Group 1. A. persicus, reflexus and vespertilionis. 



In this group the larvae are parasitic upon the host for, say, 5 to 

 10 days. In persicus, and this probably holds for the two other species, 

 the nymphs feed about as rapidly as the adults, i.e. in less than 

 2 hours ; at times in 20-30 minutes. This explains why these stages 

 are infrequently found upon the host ; they are rapid feeders and 

 quickly abandon the host when replete. Argas persicus and reflexus 

 are essentially parasitic on birds. There is no trustworthy record 8 of 

 the larval stages having been found on man or upon other mammalian 

 hosts. Without denying the possibility of their attacking mammals, it 



1 Although I have examined many bats, I have never found A. vespertilionis adults 

 and nymphs upon them. On the other hand, larvae, in various stages of repletion, were 

 not infrequently encountered. I conclude from this that the larval stage must remain 

 attached to the host for some days at least. Doubtless, the duration of parasitism is 

 influenced by the surrounding temperature. 



* It is reported that Starcovici once found reflexus larvae on the horse in Boumania 

 (vide Ticks, Part I, p. 27), hut I feel warranted in doubting the statement. 



