Nothoaspis reddelli

Nothoaspis reddelli
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Ixodida
Family:	Argasidae
Genus:	Nothoaspis
Species:	N. reddelli
Binomial name
Nothoaspis reddelli Keirans & Clifford, 1975

Nothoaspis reddelli is a species of tick in the family Argasidae.

Lifecycle

The host is the insectivorous bat Mormoops megalophylla (Mormoopidea).

A member of the Argasidae family, Nothoaspis reddelli, have a multi-host (two or more) life cycle in which they feed off of each host to reach adult form. After hatching, the nymphal instars find their first host to feed upon. After leaving the initial host, the larvae molt and develop into a nymph stage. The nymphs then find their second host for feeding. After leaving the second host, the nymphs molt under cover of shelter once more. Nymphs feed on a third host and this cycle is repeated for up to seven days, after which the nymphs leave the final host and molt to reach a sexually mature form. Mating and hatching of eggs occurs away from hosts.

Mated females oviposit frequently, leaving multiple eggs (though less than 500 eggs per cycle).

Morphology

Females and males have large morphological differences in the hypostomal dentition.

Males have two pairs of setae on the Pedipalps.

Female Nothoaspis have one pair of setae. They also have a smooth integument situated at the anterior position of the dorsal surface, consisting of 3 large subunits: one anterior and two posterior. Each "subunit" has a small sublateral "subunit" on either side. The dorsal covered integument that remains has a cell-like configuration. Compared to the other integuments, the hood on the dorsal is large, and bluntly rounded.

Adult and nymphal Nothoaspis have a "false shield" over the anterior half of the body.

Distribution

This species is endemic to Mexico. It was discovered in the guano of the ghost-faced bat in the caves Grutas de Xtacumbilxunam in Campeche and then observed in Yucatan and Tabasco [1].

Original publication

• Keirans & Clifford, 1975: Nothoaspis reddelli, new genus and new species (Ixodoidea: Argasidae), from a bat cave in Mexico. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, vol. 68, n. 1, p. 81-85.

References

1. ↑ Keirans, Reddell & Clifford, 1977 Description of the Immature Stages of Nothoaspis reddelli (Ixodoidea: Argasidae). Bat Caves in Mexico from Annals of the Entomological Society of America.Vol 70, No. 4, p. 591-595
2. Developmental Cycle. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cvbd.org/en/tick-borne-diseases/about-ticks/developmental-cycle/life-cycles-argasidae/
3. DPDx- Laboratory Identification of Parasitic Diseases of Public Health Concern. (2013, November 29). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/ticks/#

External links

• Reference Catalogue of Life: Nothoaspis reddelli nv
• Reference NCBI: Nothoaspis
• Reference Hallan Classification