Variation in the ixodid tick, Ixodes arboricola Schulze & Schlottke 1929

Abstract

1. Seventy-three females, 1 male, 20 nymphs and 1 larva of Ixodes arboricola Schulze & Schlottke, 1929 were found on a juvenile enfeebled starling (June, 1933, Denmark).2. Range of variability of employed systematic characteristics of this species has been checked, and it was found impossible to preserve the following subspecies of I. arboricola, muscicapae, domesticus and bogatschevi.3. Between length and breadth of idiosoma of female, and between lengths of legs I and III (excluding trochanter and coxa) the ratio was found to be almost linear. A deformed leg II is described as a case of regeneration.4. I. arboricola, I. passericola, I. dryadis, and I. strigicola are regarded as synonyms and have all been incorporated in the species I. arboricola, the habitat of which is birds' nests in tree cavities.For supplying material for this study I wish to thank Professor M. Christiansen, State Veterinary Serum Laboratory, Copenhagen; Dr B. Hubendick, Director of ‘Naturhistoriska Museet’, Gothenburg; Dr S. L. Tuxen, Head of the entomological department of ‘Universitetets zoologiske Museum’, Copenhagen, and Dr Glen M. Kohls, Sanitarian director for the loan of P. Schulze's former collection of ticks.I am most thankful to Dr Don Arthur, for advice and critical reading of the manuscript.