G. H. F. Nutt all 
403 
SUMMARY. 
Amblyomma hebraeum males anchor immediately when placed in a hungry 
state upon the host. The females will not do so as a rule in the absence of 
previously anchored males. Usually the males do not move or scarcely move 
when once anchored on the host, they may continue to remain attached to the 
host for months after the females have dropped off gorged. The males, after 
having fed for a few days, show signs of sexual excitement in that they erect 
their bodies away from the host and extend their legs, whereby, without re¬ 
leasing their mouthparts from the host’s skin, they seize and hold any females 
that chance their way. The males become excited when the skin of the host 
in their vicinity is handled, no females having been near them for months. 
To copulate, the males must necessarily release their mouthparts, and this 
may at times lead to their shifting their position. They may occasionally 
shift to a fresh anchorage in company with their females, or they may shift 
a few mm. when apparently alone. A male may copulate with several females. 
The coloration of the male changes after prolonged sojourn upon the host 
(77-141 days). 
After feeding for 2-8 days or more, the females wander and are grasped 
by anchored males so that the ticks’ ventral surfaces are apposed, and in this 
position the female proceeds to feed with her mouthparts puncturing the 
skin of the host in close proximity to those of the male. Copulation takes 
place in due course, the male temporarily removing his mouthparts from the 
host for the purpose. A female may seek two males in succession but usually 
one male appears to suffice. Females feed very slowly in the absence of males, 
they gorge rapidly when fertilized, and, when fully gorged, usually abandon 
the host without delay. Depending upon their having access to males and 
access to a more or less adequate food supply from the host, the females 
remain upon the host for 4-25 days before dropping off in a gorged condition. 
Hyalomma aegyptium males anchor immediately when placed upon the 
host. In the absence of females they remain fixed or change their position but 
slightly at long intervals of time. When hungry males and females are placed 
together upon the host, they proceed to suck blood at once, and, after a pre¬ 
liminary feed lasting five or more days, the males wander in search of females. 
A male may copulate with several females. Females placed in close proximity 
to males cause these to become excited (as in A. hebraeum). The females as a 
rule do not change their anchorage upon the host from start to finish, being 
sought by the males. The latter stay upon the host indefinitely (122 or more 
days) after the gorged and fertilized females have dropped off. 
Rhipicephalus bursa males and females, when hungry, proceed to feed at 
once when placed together upon the host. After remaining fixed for 3-5 days, 
the males seek anchored females. The males may seek a number of females in 
succession, usually feeding for some days prior to seeking a fresh female. 
