Ticks of Domestic Animals in Africa - Alan R Walker - Science Writer

14
Festoons to Genital
Festoons enclosed by lateral groove: in female and male Haemaphysalis
and some other genera, the lateral grooves extend into the
area where the festoons are. This enclosure, or overlapping, by the
grooves may be absent, or may enclose one, or two, or three festoons
on each side of the tick. This character varies with the sexes. The festoons
of females are clearly visible only when the tick is unfed.
Festoons number: festoons are a regular series of bulges in the posterior
margin of females and males (they may be obscured when the tick
feeds). In Haemaphysalis species they vary in number, either nine, or
eleven, counting from the outermost festoon just below the dorsal appearance
of the spiracle plate.
Festoons presence: festoons are a regular series of bulges in the posterior
margin of females and males (they may be obscured when the tick
feeds). In some genera they are absent, in others they are present.
Flaps: paired structures below the surface of the hyaline border of the
female genital aperture. They are usually dark coloured (sclerotized)
and of supportive function. May also be known as Hyaline flaps. (see
Hyaline border.)
Genital aperture anterior groove: this aperture is the opening of the
reproductive organs on the ventral surface. In females a groove may be
present just anterior to the aperture, it is shallow, or deep relative to
the general body surface. The drawings show the ventral surface at the
top and a vertical cross section at the bottom.
Genital aperture position: in Ixodes the female genital aperture may
be located between coxae 3, or between coxae 4.
Genital aperture posterior lips: this aperture is the opening of the
reproductive organs. In females the opening to the vagina (or atrium)
is formed by two lateral lips of characteristic outlines forming: a narrow
U shape, or a broad U shape, or a narrow V shape, or a broad
V shape, or a truncated V shape. Truncated means the cut-off appearance
of the shape of the lips in their posterior part and in this case their
shape is also formed by a pair of lateral hyaline borders (see Hyaline).
The important shape is formed by the interior outline, as arrowed.