are also attracted to man's agricultural activities and the adult ticks frequent tall grass in search of hosts. All these factors bring man and tick closer together. When dragging for ticks in Nyanza Province of Kenya, Lewis (1931C) obtained adult glossy ticks only in shady woodlands while the other species, R. appendiculatus, A. variegatum, and H. leachii were obtained from open country with grass and bushes. In Moreau's (1933) study of the food of the tickbird, Buphagus erythrorhynchus (Stanley), in Tanganyika, fifteen specimens of R. s. simus were found in the stomachs of four of 58 birds examined. In Kenya, van Someren (1951) examining the stomachs of twelve of the same kind of bird found four females in two of them. He found seven adults in three out of seven stomachs of B. a. africanus. DISEASE RELATIONS MAN: Boutonneuse fever (Rickettsia conorii). Paralysis (?toxin). CATTLE: East Coast fever (Theileria parva). Gallsickness (Anaplasma marginale). Redwater (Babesia bigemina). PIGS Piroplasmosis (Babesia trautmanni). SHEEP: Not a vector of Nairobi sheep disease (virus). CARNIVORES: Statements that R. simus may transmit Babesia gibsoni among jackals and dogs and B. felis among pumas are based on errors in tick identification and on errors in quoting original reports.7 REMARKS Misshapen specimens have been reported by Santos Dias (1947B, 1955A). In the latter paper, a gynandromorph is also described and illustrated. Symbiotes have been reported by Cowdry (19250,1926A,1927) and reviewed by Jaschke (1933). Dinnik and Zumpt (1949) reported on larval integumentary sense organs in relation to those of nymphs and adults as well as of other species. The "R. simus group" of Zumpt (1942A) consists of the species R. simus with two subspecies simus and senegalensis, and of several related species, R. longicoxatus, R. lunulatus, R. tricuspis, R. distinctus, R. p. planus, and R. p. complanatus, R. simpsoni, and R. reichenowi (probably (probably R. zumpti Santos Dias 1950B). These are all Ethiopian Faunal Region species. Zumpt also included the IndoMalayan species R. h. haemaphysaloides and R. h. pilans, but I hesitate so to consider them. The outstanding diagnostic criterion of the R. simus group is a scutal pattern of few large, fairly deep punctations arranged in about four more or less regular, individually characteristic, longitudinal rows. Among these, interstitial punctations are usually inconspicuous. Adanal shields of males of each species are distinctive. Female scutal patterns may be more variable and those of certain closely related species or subspecies may be difficult to differentiate. Actually, R. s. sanguineus conforms to this group criterion and might well be considered as a member of the R. simus group. It would then also be much easier to associate the Indo-Malayan species, mentioned above, with this group. Theiler (correspond ence) writes that she agrees with this view. Santos Dias (1952) has considered this group differently. IDENTIFICATION Males: This sex is easily recognized and extremely few specinens ever cause doubt as to their identity. The group criterion of four more or less regular rows of rare scutal punctations is always definite, but their distribution and depth are somewhat variable. Although interstitial punctations are usually faint or obsolete, a few specimens show them more distinctly, though never enough to confuse the picture. Posteromedian and paramedi an grooves are absent; rarely they are just barely discernible, but never pronounced. This latter fact is an important distinction between R. s. simus and those specimens of R. s. sanguineus that otherwise closely approximate R. s. simus in appearance. The scutum is arched and usually shiny black, less commonly reddish brown or reddish yellow, with definite, deep lateral grooves and clear festoons. The central festoon may protrude with engorge ment. A hump of coxa I projecting dorsally frequently is large enough to resemble a pointed projection, but closer inspection indicates its bluntness. Ventrally, the shape of the adanal shields, with their rounded external and internal margins, is usually characteristic; but in some specimens, in which they are abnormally narrow and with a deeply concave inner margin, they approach the sickleshape of the subspecies senegalensis. Size is extremely variable, running from minute (1.9 mm. long rarely) to well over 5.0 mm. long. Female: The outline of the black (rarely reddish) scutum is subcircular with a broadly rounded, slightly sinuous posterior margin; the length width ratio is approximately equal or slightly wider than long. Punctations are normally rare but may be some what heavier and more distinct than in the male. Interstitial punctations are rare and inconspicuous, or absent; rarely they are somewhat pronounced and slightly confuse the typical picture of this species. Lateral grooves are of variable distinctness and length; frequently they are extended posteriorly by a few punctations; in some individuals they are much reduced. The converging and thence diverging cervical grooves usually clearly extend to or almost to the posterior margin, but may be obsolete on the posterior third of the scutum. Lateral fields usually contain two or three punctations; eyes are flat. Size is variable with tremendously engorged individuals reaching 15.0 mm. in length. Most females are easily keyed but those with reduced lateral grooves are apt to be confusing. Females of the subspecies simus and senegalensis are quite similar. The nymph and larva have been described and illustrated by Theiler (1943). Figures 305 and 306, o, dorsal and ventral views Figures 307 and 308, 9, dorsal and ventral views RHIPICEPHALUS SIMUS SENEGALENSIS PLATE LXXXV 753 2 Holo 3 Mongalla 4 1 Lugurren Sunat 4 Kheirallah Phacochoerus aethiopicus bufo EQUATORIA PROVINCE RECORDS Dec Lycaon pictus somalicus Syncerus caffer aequinoctialis Mar Kheirallah Syncerus caffer aequinoctialis Mar (SCC) Jan Jul (SVS) (SGC) 2 Mar (SGC) (Lado) Specimens in the Sudan Government collection noted above were collected by H. H. King in 1910 and 1911. They had been identified as R. simus and as R. falcatus. DISTRIBUTION IN THE SUDAN Bahr El Ghazal: lo, lo from buffalo, Guar, Galual Nyang Forest, 8 June 1953, P. J. Henshaw legit. 10, and 500 and 18 gọ *Collected with 300 and lo R. simus simus. This is the only col lection seen from anywhere In Africa in which typical specimens of both subspecies have been found on a single host. The host was obviously a migrant. **For comment, see BIOLOGY below. |