150 



Annals of the Transvaal Museum. 



.the median groove at its extremity ; caudal festoons faintly indicated. 

 Ventral surface {XY, a) of same colour as dorsal surface ; genital grooves 

 beginning opposite coxae IV''^ and widely diverging ; anal groove semi- 

 circular and opening in front ; ano-marginal groove long and deep^ a small 

 groove on each side of it ; stigniatic plates elliptical transverse {XIV^ f). 

 Legs light brown, short and thick ; coxae elongate, like those of the 

 female. Rostrum small, narrow, base triangular on the dorsal surface, 

 .as long as wide, rectangular on the ventral surface, twice as wide as long, 

 sides rounded ; hypostome spatulate, many small denticles at its tip, 

 then three rows of teeth on each half, consisting of eight or nine large 

 sharp teeth, below these numerous squamiform teeth, extending to near 

 the base ; mandibles as in the female ; palpi elongate, thicker than in 

 adults ; article I very short and almost glabrous ; article II constricted 

 at its base, and twice as long as article III ; article IV small, papilliform, 

 and arranged as in adult. 



Larva. — Nearly circular in outline ; engorged larva 0.75 mm. wide by 

 1 mm. long, including rostrum ; colour light yellowish brown, with shield 

 and rostrum darker reddish Ijrown ; integument finely wrinkled ; festoons 

 well marked. Shield {XT, f) heart shaped, finely reticulated, cervical 

 emargination deep, cervical grooves deep, and reaching almost to postero- 

 lateral margin ; no eyes. Ventral surface {XV, h) like dorsal ; festoons not 

 so well marked ; anus near posterior third ; anal groove present, semi- 

 circular ; ano-marginal groove faint ; no genital grooves ; stigniatic pores 

 in three pairs, one behind each coxa. Legs slender, light yellow ; coxae I 

 triangular ; coxae II and III rectangular, each with posterior spine ; tarsi 

 thick, dorsal surface prominent. A few fine hairs on both surfaces of 

 the body. Bostrum light coloured, elongate ; base triangular on dorsal 

 surface, wider than long ; quadrangular on ventral surface ; palpi elongate, 

 article I short and narrow ; article II twice as long as wide, constricted at 

 base; article III nearly as long as article II ; article IV very small and 

 papilliform ; mandibles like those of female ; hypostome as in female. 



Lggs. — Very small, 0.50 mm. long by 0.40 mm. wide, light brownish in 

 colour. 



Hosts. — Iguana (Varanus nUoficus) in Transvaal, Natal, Cape Colony, 

 and Senegal ; Varanus sp. in German East Africa and Algeria ; PytJwn 

 sehai ; dog in South Africa. Both nymphs and adults are found on the 

 above hosts. 



Distribution. — German East Africa, Madagascar, Natal, Transvaal, 

 Cape Colony, Senegal, Congo, Algeria. 



This species is very commoii in the Transvaal on iguanas, snakes, and 

 large lizards, but has never been lired out. Nymphs and larvae are also 

 common on the same hosts as the adults. 



APONOMMA LAEVE, var. CAPENSE. NEUMANN. 



The . Snake Tick. 



Aponomma laeve, Neumani(i, var. capense, Neumann (1901). 



Plate XV, 'figures d, e, g, li, i. 



Male. — Body short, oval in (j)utline, wider behind, where it is widely 

 rounded ; length 3 mm., includihg rostrum ; width 3 mm. Shield light 

 yellowisJi brown in colour, often *^o thin as to show the infernal organs in 



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