The Sensory Perceptions of Argas persicus (Oken)

Abstract

1. All stages of Argas persicus are negatively phototropic. In addition, they are also susceptible to pronounced differences in the intensity of the illumination and select the darker places.2. In the gorged state, the ticks are slightly positively geotropic. In the unfed state, this property is not developed.3. At all stages the tick endeavours to bring as much of its surface as possible in contact with its surroundings.4. A. persicus is attracted by heat.5. In all stages an olfactory sense is well developed.6. “Haller's organ” is olfactory in function and constitutes a means by which a tick is able to recognise its host. By depriving ticks of this organ it is possible by suitable means to cause them to feed on media other than blood, thus showing that a sense of taste is absent. Argas persicus, Ornithodorus moubata and Hyalomma aegyptium have all given similar results with regard to the latter point and we believe that this constitutes a method by which perhaps other blood-sucking arthropods, after being deprived of the organ or organs necessary for the recognition of their hosts, may be made to feed on any desired medium.