Abnormal life cycle of Hyalomma dromedarii (Acari: Ixodidae) on single-humped camels in Semnan, North-East of Iran

Hyalomma dromedarii (H. dromedarii) is a very characteristic tick with a cosmopolitan distribution, which is closely associated with camels. It is well adapted to extreme dryness of habitat and to camel hosts. In this study, we studied rural husbandry of one-humped camels (dromedaries) in a village in South-West of Semnan (Biabanak). A total of 163 ticks (94 adults and 67 nymphs) were found on two camels by palpation all over the body. All the found ticks were nymphs and adults of H. dromedarii. Almost all the adult ticks were unattached and moving on the camels’ wool. They were not engorged and their body colour varied from light to dark brown. Nymphal ticks were engorged or engorging and some were molting. It was concluded that these ticks were living as one-host ticks on the camels at this site. This finding probably explains why H. dromedarii follows different types of life cycles to survive unfavorable conditions.