Comparative Internal Morphology of Subgenera of Argas Ticks (Ixodoidea, Argasidae). 4. Subgenus Ogadenus: Argas brumpti Neumann, 1907

Abstract

The internal morphology of the digestive, reproductive, and respiratory systems of Argas brumpti Neumann, the representative species of the subgenus Ogadenus Pospelova-Shtrom, is described and compared with that of the representative species of the subgenera Persicargas Kaiser et al. Secretargas Hoogstraal, Carios Latreille, and Chiropterargas Hoogstraal. The number and arrangement of the main lobes of the stomach are similar to those of A. persicus (Oken) and A. transgariepinus White. Five main tracheal trunks, arising from the spiracular atrium, supply various organs. The structure of male and female reproductive organs closely resembles that of A persicus and A. trans-gariepinus, although certain variations in morphology of these organs are present in each of these species. Evidence from the present study suggests that the subgenus Ogadenus is more closely related to the subgenera Persicargas and Secretargas than to Carios and Chiropterargas.