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ARACHNIDA. 257 
TEE CATTLE TICK. 
(Boophilus bovis Riley.)' 
This is without question the most important of the American species 
of ticks and has a double importance since it has been determined that 
it serves as a carrier of the destructive Texas fever of cattle. 
It was described in 1869 by Prof. C. V. Riley’ and figures extensively 
in discussions of cattle pests sinve. Dr. Cooper Curtice holds that the 
Algerian tick, described by Mégnin as Ixodes dugesii, is identical with 
the American form, with the probability that it was introduced into 
America on imported cattle. 
The elaborate report on this species by Dr. Curtice*® will serve as a 
basis for a Summary of the essential facts regarding the species, while 
the numerous experiments of Dr. M. Francis,’ of the Texas Experiment 
Station, furnish the most valuable guide in treatment. 
The species is distributed certainly through all of the warmer por- 
tions of the United States and quite certainly in Mexico, Central 
America, South America, and Cuba, while, if the species occurring in 
northern Africa is identical, it would extend its range through Egypt, 
Algeria, and probably all northern Africa and some of the southern- 
most parts of Europe. 
Professor Riley’s original description and remarks are as follows: 
A reddish, coriaceous, flattened species, with the body oblong-oval, contracted just 
behind the middle, and with two longitudinal impressions above this contraction 
and three below it, more especially visible in the dried specimen. Head short and 
broad, not spined behind, with two deep, round pits. Palpiand beak together unus- 
ually short, the palpi being slender. Labium short and broad, densely spined beneath. 
Mandibles smooth above, with terminal hooks. Thoracie shield distinet, one-third 
longer than wide, smooth and polished; convex, with the Jyrate medial convexity 
very distinct. Legs long and slender, pale testaceous red; coxe not spined. 
Length of body, 0.15 of an inch; width, 0.09 of an inch. 
Missouri collection, C. V. Riley. 
‘‘ This is the cattle tick of the Western States. Several hundred spec- 
imens in different stages of growth have also been received from Pul- 
von, west coast of Nicaragua, taken from the horned cattle, and ona 
species of Dasyprocta by Mr. J. McNeil. They preserve the elongated 
flattened form, with the body contracted behind the middle, by which 
this species may be easily identified. The largest specimens measure 
1If Curtice is correct in connecting this with the African form and Railliet in referring it to Rhipt- 
céphalus sanguineus Latr., the synonomy becomes quite complicated, especially if Curtice’s suspicion 
that the rosea of Koch and the annulatus of Say also come here. The whole synonomy would run 
something as follows: Ixodes sanguineus Latr. (1806); Jzodes annulatus Say (1820); Izodes plumbeus 
Dugés (1834); Ixodes dugesii Gervais (1844); Haemaphysalis rosea Koch (1844); Rhipicephalus sangui- 
neus and siculas Koch (1847); Ixodes bovis Riley (1869); Jzodes dugesii Méguin (i850); Boophilus bovis 
Curtice (1890); Rhipicephalus sanguineus Railliet (1895). 
?Government Report upon the Diseases of Cattle by Gamgee (1869). 
3Bulletin 24, Texas Experiment Station. 
17 
4653—No. 5 
