Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Legs: Legs are moderately long and thin. Coxa are each with a broadly triangu-
lar spur extending well beyond posterior margin; spurs are successively slightly
decreasing in size from I to IV.
Larva (
Figures 2.23 and 2.24
)
72
Length is approximately 0.75 mm, breadth 0.51 mm.
Capitulum: Basis capitulum is dorsally approximately 2 times as broad as long;
cornua are obsolete. Palpi are campanulate. Hypostome is slightly longer than
palpi, and hooklets in approximately five rows; dental formula is 2/2, with six or
seven denticles in a file.
Scutum: Scutum is approximately 1.3 times as broad as long. Cervical grooves
and punctations are approximately as in nymph.
Legs: Coxa I is with short, broadly rounded spur; II is with slight, broadly
rounded ridge on posterior margin; and III is with minute ridge.
Related Species
65,72
In the subgenus Herpetobia, H. himalaya is closely related to H. nepalensis, but differs
chiefly as follows: male cornua 0.6 times as long as the base of basis capitulum (0.35
times as long in nepalensis), female porose areas small rather than large, posteroexter-
nal juncture of female palpal segment II slightly flared (rounded in nepalensis), infra-
internal setae number six rather than two (both sexes), female genital operculum
longitudinally sub-quadrate (transversely oval in nepalensis). The dental formula is
5/5 in male and 7/7 in female of himalaya;innepalensis it is 4/4 in both sexes.
The larva and nymph of himalaya are morphologically related to those of kashmiren-
sis and nepalensis. The nymph of kashmirensis has a 4/4 dental formula as compared to
3/3 in himalaya; the ventral spur of palpal segment III in kashmirensis is smaller, while
it is larger in himalaya; the basis capitulum lacks cornua in kashmirensis and nepalensis
but himalaya possesses large cornua; the spiracular plates are broadly ovate in himalaya
as compared to those in kashmirensis and nepalensis.Thelarvaofkashmirensis has a
3/3 dental formula, while himalaya has 2/2. There is a definite spur on coxa I in hima-
laya but absent or obsolete in kashmirensis and nepalensis. The nymph of nepalensis
has a 2/2 dental formula, a single ventrointernal seta (three in himalaya), and small
pseudo-cornua (absent in himalaya). The larva of nepalensis can be differentiated
chiefly by the absence of a ventral spur on palpal segment III (present in himalaya).
Host
65,72,120
Immature stages: Indian muntjac, chital deer, black buck, domestic zhum, sambar
deer, and from flag dragging.
Adults: Himalayan thar, barking deer, cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat, goral, chital
deer, sambar deer, chital deer, black buck, and from flag dragging.
Distribution
65,72,120
India (Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal), Nepal.
