Argas robertsi Hoogstraal, Kaiser and Kohls, 1968

Petney, Trevor N., Boulanger, Nathalie, Saijuntha, Weerachai, Chitimia-Dobler, Lidia, Pfeffer, Martin, Eamudomkarn, Chatanun, Andrews, Ross H., Ahamad, Mariana, Putthasorn, Noppadon, Muders, Senta V., Petney, David A. & Robbins, Richard G., 2019, Ticks (Argasidae, Ixodidae) and tick-borne diseases of continental Southeast Asia, Zootaxa 4558 (1), pp. 1-89 : 13

Argas robertsi Hoogstraal, Kaiser and Kohls, 1968

This is a relatively well studied species occurring in the Australasian and Oriental Regions. It is a parasite predominantly of large non-passerine birds associated with aquatic environments, such as egrets, herons, storks and ibis, and occasionally poultry ( Hoogstraal et al. 1968a, 1974; McKilligan 1987; Barker and Walker 2014). In Thailand, the most common host species is the open-billed stork ( Anastomus oscitans ), with substantial collections coming from the Wat Phai Lom rookery in Pathum Thani Province, where the ticks are night active (Hoogstraal et al. 1974). This species was also collected in relatively high numbers from a black-crowned night heron ( Nycticorax nycticorax ) rookery in Nakhon Nayok (Hoogstraal et al. 1974).

The life cycle was described by Hoogstraal et al. (1975). It shows considerable variation in the timing of the different stages, depending on the climatic conditions in the area from which the ticks come. It can be found throughout the year, usually under the bark of trees where the hosts nest ( McKilligan 1987).

All life history stages of A. robertsi are described in Hoogstraal et al. (1968a), with an adult female illustrated in Hoogstraal et al. (1975).