| abstract | Ixodes (Ixodes) hyatti, n. sp., is closely related to I. (I.) persulcatus Schulze, the Siberian taiga vector of Russian spring-summer encephalitis virus, and is tentatively associated with a new arbovirus recently recorded by University of Maryland School of Medicine virologists. This new species is recorded from Ochotona roylei subspp. between 2735 and 4615 m altitude in the Himalayas of Nepal and West Pakistan. Nymphs and mating adults were taken on pikas in severe winter weather, and females, nymphs, and larvae in early and late monsoon and postmonsoon periods. I. shahi, n. sp. (subgenus uncertain), is related to I. acutitarsus (Karsch), which commonly parasitizes humans in the Himalayas. This new species is recorded from O. r. roylei (Ogilby) and Mus musculus subsp. between 3000 and 3845 m altitude in Nepal. Pikas were infested by females, nymphs, and larvae in premonsoon periods and by nymphs and larvae in late monsoon and postmonsoon periods. A larva was taken from a mouse in late winter. |