Ticks of the Tristan da Cunha Archipelago (Acarina: Ixodidae: Argasidae).

Abstract

All the tick species reported in the literature from the Tristan da Cunha archipelago have been listed and discussed, including a new locality and likely host record for Ixodes (Multidentatus) zumpti Arthur, 1960, based on material recently collected. A total of 10 tick species, belonging to three genera from two families, have been listed together with their hosts: five bird species and a probable hoofed mammal. A summary of the tick collections made at the archipelago together with their repositories is provided, as well as a detailed list of the ticks recorded from the four main islands.

Keywords

Ticks; Acarina; Ixodidae; Argasidae; ectoparasites; Tristan da Cunha; Nightingale; Inaccessible; Gough; Islands; South Atlantic Ocean; seabirds.