Ornithodoros capensis Neumann, 1901

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 : 14

Ornithodoros capensis Neumann, 1901

Ornithodoros capensis has a worldwide distribution as a parasite of marine and other water birds, occurring on islands and in other coastal habitats in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, as well as some inland waters ( Hoogstraal et al. 1976; Barker and Walker 2014). It is part of a complex containing 11 species that can be found predominantly on these hosts ( Keirans et al. 1992; Barker and Walker 2014; Duron et al. 2014; Muñoz-Leal et al. 2017). It will also feed on domestic poultry and humans ( Hoogstraal et al. 1976; Barker and Walker 2014).

Dupraz et al. (2016) found a strong relationship between the genetic grouping within the O. capensis complex and host use in sympatric as well as allopatric populations. Geographic distance played a secondary role. These authors also discovered several novel genetic groups which they consider to be presumptive new species within this complex. The host-associated genetic divergence correlated well with morphological variation.

Continental Southeast Asian records of O. capensis are from Laridae , Sterna spp., in Thailand (coastal Chon Buri Province, Sattahip District) ( Tanskul et al. 1983). These ticks tend to remain in the nesting places of their hosts outside the breeding season, allowing them to reinfest the hosts when they return to nest ( Humphery-Smith and Moorhouse 1980). Heath (2006) provides some information on the life cycle and rearing of O. capensis on domestic chickens.

The male, female, nymph and larva are illustrated in Yamaguti et al. (1971). Muñoz-Leal et al. (2017) describe the morphology of the larvae and provide micrographs. Larvae of this species are included in the key to species from the Eastern Hemisphere by Sonenshine et al. (1966). Some information on the adults is available in Kohls (1957).