Argas spp.
Scientific Classification
| Class | Arachnida |
| Order | Parasitiformes |
| Family | Argasidae |
Argas persicus
| Also known as: | Fowl 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.
Ornithodoros spp.
- Warmer climates worldwide
- Found in primitive housing and sandy soil
- Vectors for relapsing fever in humans caused by Borrelia spp.
- Vectors for African swine fever
Otobius spp.
- Warmer climates worldwide
- Inhabits the ears of cats and dogs
- Also referred to as the 'spinose ear tick'
- Can predispose animals to secondary myiasis