וון יוון ורוד
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O.
885
20 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
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2. Tabanus, Käuwéri (Kah-u-wérry).
3. Stomoxys, Mánsina (Mán-sin-na).
4. Glossina, Ahúria (Ah-hóo-ree-ali).
There appear to be no specific native names.
I have placed an acute accent upon the accented syllable of each native word.
The Preservation of Specimens.
The climate of the Gold Coast is very unfavourable for the preservation of collections of insects. Such collections, when pinned in unprepared glass tubes or store-boxes, are soon attacked by mites, moulds, or ants, which destroy their use fulness. After experiment with various preservatives, the following method was found to be absolutely trustworthy. Collections of insects treated by this method have been kept undamaged in ordinary store-boxes for 12 to 14 months in the damp forest region of Ashanti.
Directions for Preserving Insects.
Ordinary cork-lined whitewood store-boxes were used. Such boxes require to have the top and bottom boards secured by brass screws as well as by glue. Make a swab by winding cotton wool or rag upon the extremity of a stick. Pour out some medicinal creosote into a saucer and soak the swab in it. Open the cork- lined store-box, which will be found covered inside with white paper. Rub the whole of the inside surface of the box with the swab kept well wetted with creosote, until the underlying cork or wood can be seen through the white paper. Then close the box and lay it aside for half-an-hour. Then pin in the specimens upon thin card discs and keep the store-box closed as much as possible.
When it is not possible to pin the insects they may be sent through the post safely as follows: Place some clean dry sawdust upon a sheet of paper and sprinkle it with creosote (one teaspoonful of creosote to one ordinary 50-cigarette-tin-full of sawdust); rub the sprinkled sawdust between the hands so as to distribute the creosote thoroughly throughout the whole mass.
Dry the flies partially. If too dry, the legs and antennæ are very easily broken off.
Place a layer of creosoted sawdust upon the bottom of a tin box, drop in gently the flies upon it. Cover them with creosoted sawdust, then place upon them another layer of flies and sawdust, and so on until the box be quite full. Put on the lid, wrap tightly in paper to prevent the lid coming off, and forward by post.
In concluding this report, I have to thank Dr. Garland, Acting Principal Medical Officer, Dr. Ralph, Medical Officer, and Dr. C. Le Fanu, Medical Officer, for specimens from Accra, Axim, and Navarro, respectively, and Captain Armitage, D.S.Ó., for specimens from Obuasi, and Dr. Langley, Principal Medical Officer, for unvarying interest and assistance in forwarding the completion of my work.
I have also to thank Mr. E. E. Austen, of the British Museum, for very kind assistance in identifying species, and for much useful advice, which has added to the completeness of this report.
Ixodidæ.
Ticks were collected from wild or domestic animals when opportunity offered. At Obuasi and Kumasi sheep and oxen are slaughtered daily, and at both places
the ticks upon the hides of these animals were collected.
I found that my fox terrier acted as an efficient trap for certain species. At Accra specimens of several genera were found upon the rats sent for exami- nation to the plague laboratory, but, with the exception of Ornithodorus talaje, no further species were secured.
LIST OF THE SPECIES COLLECTED.
a. ARGASINÆ.
1. Ornithodorus talaje, Guerin-Mèneville.
Specimens were found at Accra upon the large rat (Cricetomys Gambianus,
Waterhouse).
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B. IXODIDE.
1. Rhipicephalæ.
1. Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Latr.
This species is common on dogs. It is also the tick found most frequently upon man, probably from his association with dogs. It was also occa- sionally found upon the rats at Accra.
In Ashanti the nymphs of this species were found upon the dog during the
rains, the adult form during the dry season.
A curious sport of this species was taken upon a dog at Accra. This anoma
lous tick had two ani, three stigmata, and 22 festoons.
R. simus, Koch.
Found upon sheep and oxen in Ashanti, but not in very large numbers. R. bursa, Can.
Found upon sheep in Ashanti.
R. appendiculatus, Neumann.
A few specimens were taken upon oxen at Kumasi.
2. Boophilus decoloratus, Koch.
Very common upon oxen and found occasionally upon horses in Ashanti.
B. Australis, Fuller.
Very common upon oxen and associated with B. decoloratus upon the same
beast. Occasionally upon horses.
3. Haemaphysalis Leachi, Andonin.
Found upon the dog, domestic cat, and leopard in Ashanti.
H. parmata, Neumann.
Found upon a small antelope killed at Prahsu.
1. Hyalomma Aegyptium, Linné.
II. IXODE.
Found upon oxen, associated with B. decoloratus and B. Australis. Occa-
sionally upon man.
2. Amblyomma variegatum, Fab.
Common upon oxen in the Colony, Ashanti, and Northern Territories. Occa-
sionally upon man and rats.
A. splendidum, Giebel.
Found upon oxen in Ashanti, associated with A. variegatum. Female only
taken.
3. Aponomma laeve, Neumann.
Found upon large black snake (Naia nigricollis).
4. Ixodes rasus, Neumann.
Found upon leopard; occasionally upon dog and man. In certain places it attached itself to persons or dogs who walked through grass or dense bush.
Ixodes Ugandanus, Neumann.
Found at Obuasi upon a civet cat (Viverra civetta).
I have to thank Professor Nuttall and Mr. C. Warburton for their kindness
in confirming my identification of the foregoing species.
1. Cimex rotundatus.
Hemiptera.
Found in the bed mats of natives at Obuasi, Kumasi, and Accra.
1. Pulex penetrans, Linné.
Found upon man.
Siphonaptera.