title: The seasonal abundance of adult ixodid ticks on Merino sheep in the south-western Orange Free State.
abstract: With the exception of October, when no collections were made, adult ticks were collected at weekly intervals from February 1986 to January 1987 from 20 randomly selected sheep out of a flock of 60. Ixodes rubicundus was the most abundant tick and was present from April to September with a peak during May. Hyalomma marginatum rufipes was the next most numerous tick. It was recovered throughout the year with peak burdens being recorded from November to April. Small numbers of a Rhipicephalus sp. (near R. pravus) were also collected. These exhibited a major peak during February and a minor peak during August. A dipping programme to prevent the paralysis caused by I. rubicundus and the Rhipicephalus sp. (near R. pravus) is suggested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Orange Free State, Bloemfontein, Republic of South Africa.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Fourie
authors.forename: I G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Horak
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marais
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D012621:Seasons; D012756:Sheep / Q000469:parasitology*; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D013019:South Africa; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*