Seasonal and Regional Abundance of Ticks (Ixodidae) on Hares (Leporidae) in Kenya1

Abstract

Between August 1967 and July 1968, 367 hares, Lepus capensis, were examined for ticks at 3 ecologically different localities in the Rift Valley of Kenya. Among the 3865 ticks collected, the largest number (2122) and the greatest variety of tick species (9) were from Olorgesailie where the mean annual temperature and rainfall were intermediate between the hotter and drier Magadi and the colder and wetter Akira Ranch. The most frequently collected ticks (totalling more than 100) in these areas were as follows: Magadi—Hyalomma sp. (immatures); Olorgesailie—Hyalomma sp. (immatures), Rhipicephalus pravus group (all stages), R. pulchellus (immatures) and Haemaphysalis leachi group (all stages); and Akira Ranch—Hyalomma sp. (immatures), and Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi (immatures). A total of 759 ticks was also taken from 30 Lepus crawshayi at localities, 5 in Kenya and 1 in Uganda. Of interest was the collection of 143 larvae, 113 nymphs and a single adult of R. appendiculatus from 12 hares taken at Lolgorien-Kilgoris, a much wetter area than the 3 L. capensis study sites. The percentage of tick-infested hares was related to monthly rainfall, and more adult male hares carried ticks than did female or young hares.