Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Legs: Coxa I is with a very slight ridge-like projection, coxa II and III are
unarmed.
Related Species
112
This species is closest to H. doenitzi from which it differs as follows: In males, the
lateral salience of palpal article II is semicircular in outline in H. megalaimae
whereas it is broadly angular in H. doenitzi; there are three or four infrainternal
bristles on palpal article II in the males of H. megalaimae, as compared to six or
seven in H. doenitzi; the width of the dorsal basis is twice its length in H. megalai-
mae, whereas the width is only about 1
1
2
times the length in H. doenitzi. In females
of H. megalaimae, there are three infrainternal bristles on palpal article II as com-
pared to eight to ten bristles in H. doenitzi.
Ecology
112,118
This species has been originally recorded from only a single-host bird species in
Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) area, Megalaima virdis, which is exclusively arbo-
real and nests in tree holes. It seems that the life cycle of this tick must be complet-
ing on this host bird in nest hole. The ticks may be dropping and molting in the nest
only and attaching on to the bird host while it is in the nest. This tick has never been
collected on vegetation or on ground drags, unlike most of the other KFD ticks.
Host
112
Immature stages: Small green barbets.
Adults: Small green barbet and many other bird species from KFD area.
Distribution
112
India (Karnataka).
2.5.5 Haemaphysalis doenitzi
The Indian specimens of this species were first described as a separate species,
Haemaphysalis centropi, by Kohls in 1949 from birds, and later on, it was synony-
mized with H. doenitzi Warburton and Nuttall, 1909 on the basis of morphologic
similarities (
Figure 2.37
).
Male (
Figures 2.38 and 2.39
)
35,97,104
Overall
body
length
is
2.62
2.82 mm, width
1.35
1.68 mm;
average
2.57 mm
1.53 mm, ovoid, widest at about the fourth coxa.
Capitulum: Capitulum length from tips of palpi to tips of cornua is about
0.54 mm; length of basis is 0.21 mm; width of basis is 0.36 mm. Cornua are moder-
ate and sharp. Hypostome is widest at about the middle, blunt, and slightly notched.
3
