Soft Ticks - Overseas



Argas spp.

Scientific Classification

Class Arachnida
Order Parasitiformes
Family Argasidae

Argas persicus

Also known as: Fowl tick


Chicken tick
Adobe tick
Blue tick

Hosts

Chicken, turkeys and wilk birds.

Identification

A. persicus is a dark red tick, turning blue when fully fed. The female is larger than the male at around 8mm in length. The outer surface of the tick is irregular and creased appearance.

Life Cycle

A. persicus breeds in cracks in poultry sheds. It is active at night, feeding on the stock. The female is capable of producing large numbers of eggs. These eggs quickly hatch and the larvae attach to a host, where they feed. They draw several large blood meals, and then leave the host, returning to cracks in the poultry sheds.

The larvae then undergo three further transformations through the nymphal stages, before becoming an adult.

The complete life cyle should be done in around a month. However, under sub-optimal conditions it may be longer.

Argas reflexus

Also known as: Pigeon tick

Hosts

Pigeon

Identification

They are around 9mm in length and reddish brown in colour. They also have distinct irregular grooves along the lateral edges.

Life Cycle

Similar to that of A. persicus. The number of nymphal stages vary from 2-4, and their complete life cycle may take up to 11 years.

Argas walkerae

Also known as: Chicken tick

Hosts

Chicken

Life Cycle

Similar to A. persicus with three nymphal stages.


Ornithodoros spp

Scientific Classification

Class Arachnida
Order Parasitiformes
Family Argasidae

Ornithodoros erraticus

Also known as: Ornothodoros marocanus


Sand tampan

Hosts

Mostly small mammals.

Life Cycle

O. erraticus lays eggs in the sand of the habbitats where the hosts live. The eggs then hatch into larvae, which undergo several nymphal transformations, before turning into adults, which feed on their hosts.

Ornithodoros hermsi

Also known as: Sand tampan

Hosts

O. hermsi can affect most mammals, but is seen most commonly amongst rodents.

Identification

It is a pale tick, but after a meal it turns light blue. It is around 5mm in length.

Life Cycle

Like O. erraticus, laying eggs in the sand. The larvae then remain inactive until they moult into nymphs. The nymphs then undergo several further transformations, then become adults.

Otobius spp

Scientific Classification

Class Arachnida
Order Parasitiformes
Family Argasidae

Otobius megnini

Also known as: Spinose ear tick

Hosts

Sheep, dogs, horses, cattle, and occasionally humans.

Identification

The females are between 5-8mm in length, and the males are slightly smaller. They have a granular integument, and a light blue body with light yellow legs.

Life Cycle

The larval and nymphal stages are parasitic, but the adults are not. Eggs are laid and occupy cracks in the shelters etc. where the hosts live. The larvae may survive without food for a long period of time.

The larvae moult in ears and may remain there for several months. After this they drop of the host. The adults do no feed, and are capable of living in the cracks for long periods of time.

Otobius lagophilus

Also known as: Rabbit ear tick

Hosts

Rabbits.

Life Cycle

This is a one-host tick, and only the larvae and nymphs are parasitic.