Hosts of the immature stages of the rhinoceros tick, Dermacentor rhinocerinus (Acari, Ixodidae)

Abstract

The collection of the immature stages of Dermacentor rhinocerinus from host animals is described for the first time. These are the bushveld gerbil ( Tatera leucogaster), from which larvae and nymphs were collected, the red veld rat ( Aethomys crysophilus), from which a larva was collected, and the Natal multimammate rat ( Mastomys natalensis), from which a nymph was collected. The rodents were examined in a nature reserve in which there are white rhinoceroses ( Ceratotherium simum).