Redescription and molecular characterization of the tick Argas japonicus Yamaguti, Clifford & Tipton, 1968 (Ixodida: Argasidae).

Species of the genus Argas are parasites that transmit pathogens, eubacteria, and viruses. Argas japonicus Yamaguti, Clifford & Tipton, 1968 was described based on specimens collected from Japan and Korea. Recently, A. japonicus was reported in different areas of China, suggesting that it may be widely distributed. Here, we have redescribed the female, male, and nymphal stages of A. japonicus and provided scanning electron microscope images based on specimens collected in Neimenggu, China. In addition, we compared four A. japonicus individuals with Argas 16S rDNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 sequences obtained from GenBank.
(© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)