50 Adaptation of Ticks 
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) i. 
0. megnini 
5 days (but they stay on as nymphs upon the host). 
The first stage nymphs of 
A. persicus 
—2 hours (Nuttall). 
0. mouhata 
10 minutes—1 hour (Nultall). 
0. 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 latter stage nymphs 
and adults of 
A. persicus 
5 minutes—2 hours (Nuttall). (Usually less than | hour.) 
A. reflexus 
20—27 minutes (Alt, Boschulte). 
0. mouhata 
20 minutes—2 hours (Nuttall). 
0. coriaceus 
45 minutes—If hours (Nuttall). 
0. turicata 
Feed more rapidly than the last (Nuttall). 
0. tholozani 
30 minutes (Megnin). 
0. lahorensis 
25 minutes—2J hours (Nuttall). 
0. savignyi 
Feed like 0. mouhata (Nuttall). 
We may divide the ticks above enumerated into three classes, 
according to their biology: 
Group 1. A. persicus, reflexus, and vespertilionis. 
„ 2. 0. mouhata and savignyi. 
„ 3. 0, 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^ of 
the larval stages having been found on man or upon other mammalian 
hosts. Without denying the possibility of their attacking mammals, it 
^ 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 Eoumania 
(vide Ticks, Part I, p. 27), but I feel warranted in doubting the statement. 
