RE-DESCRIPTION AND NEW RECORD OF ARGAS (PERSICARGAS) PERSICUS (OKEN,1881) (ACARINA : ARGASIDAE) FROM BALOCHISTAN, PAKISTAN

Argas persicus (Oken, 1881), fowl tick, is re-described for the first time from Balochistan, Pakistan in detail with special reference to lateral suture, mouthparts, spiracular plates, coxae, Haller’s organ and genital apparatus and in this light its relationships within its group is also briefly discussed. Taxonomic structures not discussed and not illustrated before are described and illustrated as additional information to facilitate zoologists and veterinarians in correct identification of this tick. A key is erected to soft tick genera, subgenera and to differentiate species of subgenera Argas and Persicargas. It is hoped that this paper will provide an anatomical base for future morphological studies.