Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) of Nepal: first record of Amblyomma varanense (Supino), with an update of species list

Abstract

Males and females specimens of Amblyomma were collected from Orthriophis hodgsoni (Squamata: Colubridae) caught during routine herpetological work in Kathmandu. Morphological characteristics led to the diagnosis of A. varanense, constituting the second Nepalese species for the genus after the collection of Amblyomma gervaisi, also from a colubrid snake, almost 100 years ago. Amblyomma varanense is the 55th species found in the country, and preceded for the collection of 21 species of Haemaphysalis, 14 Ixodes, 6 Rhipicephalus, 6 Hyalomma, 4 Dermacentor, 1 Amblyomma, 1 Anomalohimalaya and 1 species of Nosomma. Eleven and 19 species have been found on humans and domestic mammals, respectively, evidencing the medical and economic importance of Nepalese Ixodidae.