Alectorobius coniceps (Canestrini, 1890)

Distribution

This tick has been found in the nests of swallows in Charsadda District (Ali et al. 2024a). In the current study this species was found in Mardan District.

Morphological characters

Male (Fig. 2, A–C): Body approximately 4.15± 0.2 mm long and 3.23± 0.1 mm wide, dark brown in colour; posterior body margin rounded, obtusely angled anteriorly, with small subtriangular hood; surface elevated around anterior discs and periphery; mammillae sparse and variable in number; small to large conspicuous discs, with depressed and pebbled central area; posteromedian disc row reaching 2/5 length of body; genital aperture oval, surrounding integument densely and finely pebbled, posterior integument transversely corrugated; preanal groove narrow, arms of transverse section extending almost to body margin; posteromedian groove extending from anus to transverse postanal groove; capitulum with long, conspicuous cheeks; basis capituli ventrally pebbled, twice as long as broad; hypostome three times longer than broad, dental formula 2/2; legs long, slender, surface pebbled; coxae II–IV contiguous, coxae I separated from others; tarsi elongate, narrow and tapering distally, lacking humps.

Female (Fig. 2, D–F): Body approximately 3.84± 0.2 mm long, 2.23± 0.1 mm broad, light to dark brown in colour; lateral body margins parallel, posterior margin broadly rounded, anterior margin obtusely angled, enclosing a subtriangular, blunt hood; body surface elevated peripherally; mammillae few in number, subcircular laterally but more linear posteriorly, arranged in chain-like rows, mammillae with single or twin setae; discs prominent and of variable size, central discs with pebbled surface, depressed and of various shapes, posteromedian discs extending nearly 2/5 of body length, separated by one or two mammillae, two irregular rows of subexternal discs run diagonally, additional discs as shown in Fig. 2D; genital area with 10 minute setae and large central pore on anterior lip, posterior lip with irregular striations, posterior lip of genital aperture wide and V-shaped; coxal and supracoxal fold well defined; narrow preanal groove extends transversely; paired organs lie within posterior third of body (Fig. 2E); spiracular plates at level of coxae IV; legs long, narrow and pebbled; coxa I separated from coxa II, subsequent coxae contiguous; tarsi narrow and elongate, with distally tapering ends and lacking prominent humps; capitulum situated between coxae I and hood, ventral surface of basis capituli pebbled, nearly twice as wide as long; 8 pairs of short posterolateral setae; posthypostomal setae elongate, arising slightly anterior to palpal insertions and extending to posterior third of palpal segment 3; hypostome three times as long as wide, dental formula 2/2, occasionally 3/3.