Description of two new species of Haemaphysalis Koch, 1844 (Acari: Ixodidae) from the H. (Rhipistoma) spinulosa subgroup, parasites of carnivores and other mammals in Africa.

Abstract

Haemaphysalis (Rhipistoma) latitudinis n. sp. (Acari: Ixodidae) and H. (R.) setosa n. sp. are described based on adults. Adults of H. (R.) latitudinis n. sp. were mostly collected from carnivores (Carnivora: Canidae, Felidae, Herpestidae, Mustelidae, Viverridae), few specimens were found on rodents (Rodentia: Muridae), bat (Chiroptera: Molossidae) and domestic cattle (Artiodactyla: Bovidae) in Benin, Central African Republic, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Sudan and Uganda. Adults of H. (R.) setosa n. sp. were mostly found on carnivores (Carnivora: Felidae, Herpestidae, Viverridae), few specimens were found on rodents (Rodentia: Muridae), hare (Lagomorpha: Leporidae), hyrax (Hyracoidea: Procaviidae) and human (Primates: Hominidae) in Kenya. Males and females of both species can be differentiated from each other and other H. spinulosa-like ticks by their size, pattern of punctations on conscutum/scutum, size of setae, shape of genital structures, size and shape of spiracular plates, dorsal cornua, posterodorsal and posteroventral spurs on palpal segment II and spur on coxae and dentition on hypostome.