E-Fauna BC Home

Argas persicus (Oken, 1818)
Bluebug; Poultry Tick
Family: Argasidae

Introduction to the Ticks of BC

Photograph

Once images have been obtained, photographs of this taxon will be displayed in this window.Click on the image to enter our photo gallery.
No E-Fauna image is available for this taxon.

Map

E-Fauna BC Static Map

Distribution of Argas persicus in British Columbia in British Columbia

Introduction


There is only one record of this species in Canada, from Vancouver, as of 2016 (Lindquist et al. 2016).

Argas persicus can infest poultry houses and can be a serious pest--it is a nocturnal species that can cause significant morbidity in poultry. (Lindquist et al. 2016).

Biological information presented below is taken from Gregson (1956).

Species Information

This is a species of soft tick found mostly on chickens and other birds; it is a carrier of avian spirochetosis in chickens (Wilipedia 2009). Gregson (1956) provides the following description for the genus: “Body oval and flattened; dorsal and ventral surfaces about equal in area and separated by a flattened marginal rim that is not obliterated even when the tick is fully fed”.

Source: Gregson, John D. 1956. The Ixodoideae of Canada. Canada Department of Agriculture, Ottawa


Figures illustrating terms used in the description of ticks [PDF].

Biology

Species Biology

This species is primarily found on chickens and domestic birds. Gregson (1956) says: “Birds probably aid in transporting this species to new areas, though this must occur during the relatively long feeding period (5-10 days). The subsequent stages gorge and drop from their hosts within a few hours. The adults may survive for as long as two years without a blood meal”. This tick carries avian spirochetosis in chickens. Gregson (1956) indicates that it causes major loss of poultry, and can be harmful to humans, with severe pain, shock, delirium, and even death.

Source: Gregson, John D. 1956. The Ixodoideae of Canada. Canada Deapartment of Agriculture, Ottawa

Habitat


The hosts for this tick are species of birds (Gregson 1956).

Distribution

Global Range

This species is found worldwide in warm climates. It is reported from South Africa, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Cuba, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Paraguay, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, United Republic of, Tunisia (TicksBase 2005). It is believed to have been introduced to North America from the Old World, and has become established across the southern portion of the United States (Gregson 1956). Its continued spread to the more temperate zones suggests that it has considerable adaptability.
Range in Canada and BC

This species has been collected in BC only from Vancouver, BC (Gregson 1956).

Status Information

Origin StatusProvincial StatusBC List
(Red Blue List)		COSEWIC
UnlistedUnlistedUnlistedUnlisted



BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer--the authoritative source for conservation information in British Columbia.

Species References

Gregson, John D. 1956. The Ixodoidae of Canada. Canada Department of Agricluture, Ottawa.

Lindquist, Evert E., Terry D. Galloway, Harvey Artsob, L. Robbin Lindsay, Michael Brebot, Heidi Wood and Richard. G. Robbins. 2016. A Handbook to the Ticks of Canada (Ixodida: Ixodidae, Argasidae Biological Survey of Canada, Ottawa

© 2014 E-Fauna BC  Contact us