In Argas (Persicargas) persicus (Oken) and A. (P.) arboreus Kaiser, Hoogstraal & Kohls (Family Argasidae), the lipid composition was qualitatively similar in egg and larval homogenates and in nymphal and adult hemolymph, gut fluid, and coxal fluid. The lipid classes in nymphal and adult biological fluids were phospholipids, free sterols, free fatty acids, triglycerides, and sterol esters. Egg and larval homogenates also contained mono- and diglycerides. Lipids varied similarly in corresponding developmental stages of each species. Lipid concentrations differed more greatly between different physiological states than between species. Sterol and phospholipid concentrations in gut fluid increased 1–5 times when the tick engorged but decreased before molting and during ovipositing. Hemolymph phospholpids were low on engorgement day but increased 2–3 times during bloodmeal digestion. Sterols were lower in hemolymph than in gut fluid and lower in nymphs and females than in males. Coxal fluid sterol and phospholipid concentrations were consistently much lower 7–14% and 3–7%, respectively) than in hemolymph. Sterols and phospholipids were low in newly deposited eggs and decreased during embryonic development. Palmitic, stearic, and oleic acids were the major free fatty acids in nymphal and female hemolymph and in egg and larval homogenates of both species.
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Nabila A. Maroun (1972) studied this question.