Morphology of spiracles in adult Hyalomma truncatum ticks (Acari; Ixodidae)

Abstract

Scanning electron microscopical investigations of fractures and corrosion casts of spiraclesin adult ticks of Hyalomma truncatum revealed a three-part structure consisting of the spiracular plate forming the outer part followed by the subostial space, which leads into the atrial chamber from which the main tracheal trunks arise. The spiracular plate consists of a thin surface plate perforated by aeropyles, an underlying interpedicellar space formed by pedicels and an inner thick base plate. The surface plate is subdivided into a porous and a non-porous area. The macula is surrounded by the porous area and cleft by the ostium, which is bounded by a lip. The lip rests on a stalk which passes through the subostial space and forms the lateral wall of the atrial chamber. The interpedicellar space is chambered comprising four types of chambers. Large pyriform chambers (type 1) open to the atmosphere via a large aeropyle and are connected at their base with a duct traversing the base plate. They correspond numerically and in their position with the large aeropyles and the ducts of the base plate. Each chamber is surrounded by four to six medium-sized tubular chambers (type 2) which are closed at both ends. Small tubular chambers (type 3) open to the atmosphere via a small aeropyle, are closed at their base and correspond in number and position to the small aeropyles. Elongated chambers (type 4) are arranged in two to three rows around the subostial space and are closed at both ends. The front row communicates with the subostial space via large gaps. All chambers interconnect with each other by slit-like fenestrations. Below the macula and surrounding the stalk is the subostial space. Over the medial half, the subostial space opens into the atrial chamber. The lateral wall of the atrial chamber is thick, whereas the opposite wall is thin, folded and can be everted and inverted. Inverted, the medial wall closes up the opening to the subostial space and the main tracheal trunks. The base of the atrial chamber consists of the openings of the main tracheal trunks only. It is concluded that the aeropyles constitute the functional openings of a spiracle, the interpedicellar space and the subostial space act as diffusion barrier and the atrial chamber is exclusively responsible for the motory process of in-and expiration and is the only closing device of the spiracle.

Hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) infesting domestic animals in Egypt: diagnostic characters and a taxonomic key to the collected species

“…Terms for morphological characters follow the previous literature in this regard (Schöl et al ., 1995; Walker et al ., 2003). The following morphological abbreviations are used: MA = mesial area, LM.A = lateral median area, F = Festoons, PO.S = posteromedian stripe, FS = falciform stripe, O = ostium, M = macula, Pa = porous area, Na = nonporous area, ASP = anterior margin of spiracular plate, H = Hypostome, Ch = chelicerae, PL = palp, CG = cervical grooves, P = parma, PO.G = posteromedian groove, PA.G = paramedian grooves, LG = lateral grooves, PR = Posterior ridges, CF = caudal field, CA = caudal appendage, AP = Adanal plates, SP = Subanal plates, AA.P = Accessory adanal plates, GA = genital aperture, and S = spiracles.…”

“…Terms for morphological characters follow the previous literature in this regard (Schöl et al, 1995;Walker et al, 2003).…”