The Pajaroello Tick (Ornithodorus coriaceus Koch) with Special Reference to Life History and Biting Habits

Abstract

For several years previous to beginning his observations on this species, the writer has listened to many harrowing tales about the Pajaroello. No one seemed to know exactly what it was and no one seemed to have collected specimens so as to make accurate identification possible in so far as the writer knew at the time. Complaints came almost exclusively from the more mountainous portions of Santa Clara and San Benito Counties (California). Natives, principally Mexicans, in the vicinity of Mt. Hamilton fear this parasite more than they do the rattlesnake, and tell weird tales of this or that man having lost an arm or leg, and in one instance even death having ensued, as the result of a bite by the Pajaroello. There seems to be a superstition in that region that three bites will result in certain death. The stories all agree in the essential detail that the bite results in an irritating lesion which is slow to heal and often leaves an ugly deep scar. Several persons also informed the writer that the Pajaroello occurred in certain mountainous portions of Mexico. It was not, however, until August, 1913, that living specimens came to hand, taken in Santa Clara County in the vicinity of Mt. Hamilton. These were identified as Ornithodorus