The immature stages of Ixodes frontalis Panzer 1795

When reviewing the status of Ixodes frontalis Panzer in an earlier paper (Arthur, 1952) the reference to Acarus (Ixodes) turdi Scopoli was not included, for the description might well apply to any tick. This is equally true for Panzer's description, and this name has been retained through popular usage. Neumann (1899) was the first worker to present a fairly clear account of this species but, as his host range shows, it may well have been clouded by reference to Ixodes brunneus Koch. The available descriptions refer to the female. Larvae have hitherto been neglected or else described as similar to the female, with the addendum that ‘in the larva the scutum is as broad as long’. Examination of ticks from a large number of birds has convinced me that in the past the immature stages of many species of ticks have, on this basis, been incorrectly determined. This may possibly be one reason for the suggested rarity of records of the immature stages of I. frontalis. In the present paper the larva of this species has been described. This description has been based on larvae sent to me by Mr John Ash.