Immature argasid ticks: diagnosis and keys for Neotropical region

• Published in: Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria Vol. 22; no. 4; pp. 443 - 456
• Main Authors: Barros-Battesti, Darci Moraes, Ramirez, Diego Garcia, Landulfo, Gabriel Alves, Faccini, João Luiz Horácio, Dantas-Torres, Filipe, Labruna, Marcelo Bahia, Venzal, José Manuel, Onofrio, Valeria Castilho
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Colégio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinária 01.10.2013; Colégio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria
• Subjects: Animals; Argasidae; Argasidae - anatomy & histology; Argasidae - classification; Argasidae - growth & development; Brazil; Female; identification; immature; key; Larva; Male; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Ornithodoros; PARASITOLOGY; VETERINARY SCIENCES; Brazil; Brasil; identification; Argasidae; Ornithodoros; chave; Brazil; imaturos; immature; identificação; key
• ISSN: 1984-2961; 1984-2961
• DOI: 10.1590/S1984-29612013000400002

Many argasid tick species are known only through their larval descriptions, in which the chaetotaxy, together with other external morphological characteristics, has been used to separate genera and species. However, the illustrations of these features are based on optical microscopy alone and many of these features are not clearly defined. Because of the difficulties in determining the larval and nymph stages of some genera, we have prepared illustrated keys for the immature stages of argasids, including an up-to-date list of the known species of the Neotropical region. We have also included an illustrated key for larvae of the Ornithodoros species from Brazil, based on scanning electron microscopy.