The Ornithodoros hasei (Schulze, 1935) (Acari: Argasidae) species group in Argentina.

SANTIAGO NAVA, JOSÉ M. VENZAL, M. MÓNICA DÍAZ, ATILIO J. MANGOLD, ALBERTO A. GUGLIELMONE.

Systematic And Applied Acarology

Año: 2007 vol. 12 p. 27 - 30

1362-1971

Six larvae of the genus Ornithodoros were collected in Rio Lavayén, approximately 1km north of Santa Rita,San Pedro Department (24º 28´S, 64º 48´W), Jujuy Province, Argentina, on three species of bats: Molossopstemminckii (Burmeister, 1854) (Molossidae), Myotis albescens (E. Geoffroy, 1806) (Vespertilionidae) andHistiotus laephotis Thomas, 1916 (Vespertilionidae). All six larvae were identified as belonging to theOrnithodoros hasei species group, whose members are common parasites of bats throughout the NeotropicalZoogeographic Region. This is the first record of the O. hasei species group in Argentina, and M. temminckiiand H. laephotis are new hosts for this tick. Studies of the morphology, genetics and ecology of O. hasei acrossits vast range will be necessary in order to determine whether sibling species are present.