ATTACHMENT PREFERENCES OF HYALOMMA-TRUNCATUM AND HYALOMMA-MARGINATUM-RUFIPES TICKS (ACARI, IXODIDAE) ON 2 SHEEP BREEDS

Hyalomma ticks were collected from Merino and black-headed Dorper shee p and their attachment preferences determined. The preferred site of a ttachment for Hyalomma marginatum rufipes on both Dorper and Merino sh eep was the anogenital and inguinal areas (75-76%). On Dorper sheep, H . truncatum attached predominantly to the anogenital and inguinal area s (67,7%). On Merino sheep, most adults of this species attached to th e feet (26%). Almost equal percentages also attached to the ano-genita l/inguinal and brisket areas (21,6 and 22,9%, respectively). These dif ferences should be considered when pour-on acaricides are applied to d ifferent breeds of sheep.