Dermacentor rhinocerinus (Denny 1843) (Acari: Ixodida: ixodidae): redescription of the male, female and nymph and first description of the larva.

Abstract

Presented is a diagnosis of the male, female and nymph of Dermacentor rhinocerinus, and the 1st description of the larval stage. Adult Dermacentor rhinocerinus parasitize both the black rhinoceros, Diceros bicornis, and the white rhinoceros, Ceratotherium simum. Although various other large mammals have been recorded as hosts for D. rhinocerinus, only the 2 species of rhinoceros are primary hosts for adults in various areas of east, central and southern Africa. Adults collected from vegetation in the Kruger National Park, Transvaal. South Africa were reared on rabbits at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, where larvae were obtained for the 1st time.