Parasites of domestic and wild animals in South Africa. XIII. The seasonal incidence of adult ticks (Acarina: Ixodidae) on cattle in the Northern Transvaal.

Ticks were collected over a period of 13 months, at approximately fortnightly intervals, from 6 Africaner oxen kept on the farm Nylsvley in the Naboomspruit District. The 8 species of Ixodidae collected were, in order of abundance, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, R. evertsi evertsi, Hyalomma marginatum rufipes, H. truncatum, Amblyomma hebraeum, R. simus, Boophilus decoloratus and Ixodes cavipalpus. The relative abundance of adult ticks of these species, their predilection feeding sites and seasonal fluctuations in numbers are discussed.