RECORDS OF IXODOIDEA (TICKS) FROM ESSEX 195
I. trianguliceps Birula
1 ♀, R. norvegicus (Brown rat—♀—on body), Little Chester-
ford, 5,iv.l966 (G.B.T.); 4 ♀ ♀, 1 ♂, 1 larva, R. rattus (L.) (Black
rat—♀—on back and tail), Billericay, 20.ix.1959 (R.J.K.); 1 ♂, 1
larva, (Black rat—♂—on back), Billericay, 22.ix.1959 (R.J.K.)—
these male ticks, collected within minutes of the hosts' death, were
unattached and crawling on the bodies : 1 ♀, Apodemus sylvaticus
(L.) (Long-tailed field-mouse—nest), Billericay, 26.x. 1957
(R.J.K.); 1 nymph, (Long-tailed field-mouse—♂—on ear),
Waltham Abbey, Quinton Hill Farm, 20.ii.1961 (M.S.); 1 nymph,
Clethrionomys glareolus (Schreber) (Bank-vole), Rochford, Daws
Heath, 3.vi.1960 (D.H.); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, (? Bank-vole—nest), Loughton,
nr. Goldings Hill, 5,iii.l967 (R.S.G.); 1 larva, Sorex araneus L.
(Common shrew—♀). Billericay, Mill Meadows, 2.x.1959 (R.J.K.);
2 larvae, (Common shrew — ♀), Billericay, Jackson's Lane,
2.X.1959 (R.J.K.); 2 ♀ ♀, 1 ♂, (Common shrew—nest). Stock,
xi.1959 (R.J.K.)—these specimens had recently moulted and were
unfed, they were figured by Arthur (1963), see above; 7 nymphs,
17 larvae, (Common shrew—♀), Stock, Broom Wood, 30.vii.1960
(R.J.K.); 1 larva, S. minutus L. (Pigmy shrew—♂), Billericay,
i.1960 (R.J.K.); 1 nymph, (Pigmy shrew—♀), Billericay,
13.xii.1960 (R.J.K.); 1 nymph, 1 larva, (Pigmy shrew), Hockley,
22.vi.1960 (D.H.); 16 larvae (Pigmy shrew—♀—on ears), Billeri-
cay, Ramsden Hall, 7.ii.1961 (R.J.K.); 5 larvae, Sorex sp.—nest,
Billericay, Ramsden Hall, xi.1959 (R.J.K.)—these larvae were un-
fed; 1 ♂, Apodemus sp.—nest in old Song-thrush nest, Billericay,
Claypitshill Wood, 3.iv.l960 (R.J.K.); 1 ♀, Arvicola terrestri (L.)
(Water-vole), Stambridge, 1961 (D.H.).
This tick is a parasite of small mammals.
*Haemaphysalis punctata Can. & Fan.
All stages on sheep and cattle, nr. Tolleshunt D'Arcy, iii-x.1965
(D. Kemp).
Through the kindness of Dr S. F. Barnett we have recently
received this interesting record—a species new to the county.
Previously this species has only been found in Kent, the S. West of
England, Glamorgan and Bardsey Id.
ARGASIDAE
*Argas (Carios) vespertilionis (Latreille)
Numerous larvae, Pipistrellus pipistrellus (Schreber) (Pipis-
trelle), Billericay, 28.ix.1958 (R.J.K.) and Colchester Castle, 15, 18
and 21.1.1962 (C.O.).
This is a bat tick and it is common on the Pipistrelle. The
adults have not yet been found in Britain and should be searched
for in the roosts. They only spend a limited time on the host
when feeding.
We are specially grateful to the following persons for providing
specimens for study: Raymond E. Chaplain (Passmore Edwards