Cattle ticks from the Waterberg district of the Transvaal

Abstract

Macroscopically visible ticks were collected from the hides of 28 cattle slaughtered in pairs during a period of 14 months in the Waterberg District. In order of prevalence Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi, Amblyomma hebraeum, Hyalomma marginatum rufipes, Ixodes cavipalpus, Hyalomma truncatum and Boophilus decoloratus were recovered. Immature stages of the three commonest species constituted a major portion of the population for varying periods during the months April to September. These results are in general agreement with those of surveys done in the northern Transvaal, Natal and Rhodesia.