l82 



ARACHNOIDEA. 



CASE Argas americanus (ie/Zo').— 30. Enlarged figure of ditto. 



XI. 



No. 30. Found in Texas along with the common cattle tick (Ixodes 

 bovis), but has not yet been recorded as troublesome to man. 



Its form is similar to that of the 

 Persian species, but the granulations 

 are smaller, and on the back radiate 

 from a central point outwards, espe- 

 cially behind. 



Argas miniatus {Koch). 



Said by Koch to be from " Dama- 

 rara" (whether intended for Demerara 

 or Damara Land not known). 



Argas Miniatus. 

 Copied from Koch. 



No. 31. ARGAS MOUBATA {Mzirr. n. s.). — 31. Enlarged figure of ditto. 



This insect is a native of Angola. Specimens were brought 

 home by the late lamented Dr. Welwitsch, and it is figured from 

 those in his collection. 



It is called by the natives Moubata, 

 and we have preserved the name. It 

 attacks both man and beast, and, 

 according to Dr. Welwitsch, gets at 

 man in bed like a bug. The pain of 

 its bite is not felt until two hours after 

 it has been inflicted, but it makes up 

 for the respite by continuing painful 

 and inflamed for from twelve to 

 twenty-four hours thereafter. It is 

 oblong, coriaceous, coloured something like a shark's skin, or 

 slate-colour, speckled with white spots or granulations all over it, 

 which are larger and more dispersed than in the other species. 



It is obviously akin to the Argas Savignii of Egypt, which, how- 

 ever, does not, from the figure in the " Description de I'Egypte,'* 



Argas moubata (magnified and natural 

 size). 



