The southern cattle tick, Boophilus microplus, is widely distributed and occurs in the tropical parts of the American continent, Asia and Australia.. In addition to its role as a principal vector of bovine babesiosis and anaplasmosis, may cause anaemia, weight loss and death.
These are ticks with short palps and inornate scutum. In all regions Boophilus microplus is primarily a parasite of cattle, but infestations can develop on horses and sheep; goats and deer can also be infested.
The spiracular plate is broadly rounded or oval.The female feeds slowly at first and then, after mating, engorges rapidly and drops from the host about 3 weeks after attachment of the larva.
In the vast majory of arthropods respiration takes place by means of internal air-tubes known as tracheae. These ramify through the organs of the body and its appendages, the finest branches being termed tracheoles.In ticks, the air enters the tracheae through a pair of lateral openings termed spiracles. Excessive water loss from the tracheal system into the surrounding atmosfere is doubtless prevented by an effective closing device in the spiracle. On the other hand, the uptake of water vapour from the atmosphere could explain the exceptionally long survival of unfed ticks on a number of ixodid species.
Males of the genus have elongated, posteriorly pointed adanal and accessory plates. Posterior margin of the species with a small caudal process.
The first 24 h after host infestation is the most critical stage for the survival of B.microplus larvae. During this time they disperse widely over the animal and on highhly resistant cattle 85-90% of the larvae are lost, whereas only 40-73% are lost from cattle of low resistance. Anyway, when larvae find themselves on the host they rapidly disappear in the hair,seeking preferential sites for feeding.
When female ticks detaches, they drop to the ground, then slowly lay thousands of eggs in one batch, after which they die.
Favourite sites for feeding on domestic stock are udder, belly, groin, axilla and dewlap.
If the infestation is severe, ticks may also be found feeding in the external portion of its host's ears.
Southern cattle ticks may feed on any part of the body, particularly when populations are large. The tailhead, escutcheon, udder, scrotum, neck, dewlap, and axillaries are the preferred sites of attachment.