Studies on Southeast Asian Haemaphysalis Ticks (Ixodoidea: Ixodidae). H. (Kaiseriana) luzonensis sp. n. from Philippine Deer and Boars

Abstract

Haemaphysalis (Kaiseriana) luzonensis sp. n. is described from 493 adults, nymphs, and larvae taken on 19 deer, Cervus (Rusa) philippinus Smith, and three boars, Sus celebensis philippensis Nehring, in Nueva Ecija and Quezon Provinces of Luzon Island. This tick species inhabits forests dominated by Dipterocarpus spp. and by Pinus insularis Endl. at altitudes between 1,800 and 3,000 ft in the Sierra Madre Mountain range. Rains here are moderate to heavy each month of the year. Males, females, and usually nymphs were feeding during each of 6 months between October 1966 and August 1967 when deer and boars were examined on six mountains. The glossy, almost apunctate H. (K.) luzonensis sp. n. is closely related to H. (K.) lagrangei Larrousse of Vietnam and to H. (K.) neumanni Donitz of Japan and continental northeastern Asia. Between early October 1966 and late August 1967 personnel of the U. S. Air Force 5th Epidemiological Flight examined 29 deer, Cervus (Rusa) philippinus Smith, and 11 boars, Sus celebensis philippensis Nehring, at altitudes between 1,800 and 3,000 ft in Nueva Ecija and Quezon Provinces of Luzon Island. Nineteen deer and three boars were infested by 493 specimens of Haemaphysalis (Kaiseriana) luzonensis sp. n. This glossy, almost apunctate species is closely related and ecologically similar to H. (K.) lagrangei Larrousse of Vietnam. Structurally it is also close to H. (K.) neumanni Donitz of Japan and continental northeastern Asia. Received for publication 8 December 1967. * From Research Project MR005.09-0028, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Department of the Navy, Washington, D. C. The opinions and assertions contained herein are the private ones of the authors and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the Department of the Navy or of the naval service at large. The illustrations in this report were prepared under the auspices of Agreement 352505 between the NIH and NAMRU-3. t Head, Department of Medical Zoology, United States Naval Medical Research Unit Number Three, Cairo, Egypt, UAR. : Major, United States Air Force, Chief, Entomology Department, 5th Epidemiological Flight, Manila, Philippines. Haemaphysalis (Kaiseriana) luzonensis sp. n. Luzon Mountain Glossy Haemaphysalid (Figs. 1-35)