Bat ticks of the genus Argas (Ixodoidea: Argasidae). 13. Haller's organ roof and anterior pit setae in Carios and Chiropterargas.
Adults of 4 of the 6 species constituting the subgenus Carios and of 3 of the 4 species constituting the subgenus Chiropterargas were studied by scanning electron microscopy. All species parasitize Old World cave-dwelling insectivorous bats (Microchiroptera). The anterior pit setae number 10 in Carios and 10 or 11 in Chiropterargas. In most Carios, the setiform seta is replaced by a second serrate seta. In 2 of the 3 studied Chiropterargas species, 1 of the 2 grooved setae is exceptionally long. Porose setae number 3 in Carios and 3 or 4 in Chiropterargas. The Haller's organ roof in both subgenera is solid, lacking perforations; the aperture is narrowly transverse in Carios, irregularly wide or wide and transverse in Chiropterargas; uniquely, 1 or 2 sensilla protrude from the aperture of Chiropterargas species. The protruding sensilla and long grooved seta of Chiropterargas suggest a probably distinctive sensory-behavior pattern common to these ticks. Other morphological characters are discussed and compared to show relationships between these 2 subgenera and the subgenera Argas and Persicargas and distinctive characters present only in adult and/or larval Carios and Chiropterargas.
D000818:Animals; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000469:parasitology*; D004463:Ecology; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013045:Species Specificity; D013987:Ticks / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure