Ixodes ricinus

Also known as the Sheep tick/ Castor bean tick/ Forest tick/ Deer tick

Hosts

Sheep, cattle, dog, human

Distribution

All temperate areas of Europe

Ixodes ricinus is found mainly in area of rough grazing, moorland, woodland and areas where wild deer and rabbit are in abundance.

 Pathogenesis

Cattle: Babesia divergens, Babesia bovis, Anaplasma marginale 

Sheep: Louping-ill virus, Rickettsia, pyaemia in lambs

Human: Lyme borreliosis

 Other pathogens and diseases associated with I. ricinus include:

Tick paralysis

Tick borne encephalitis (TBE)

Russian spring-summer encephalitis

Coxiella burnetii

Bukhovinian haemorrhagic fever

 Description

Adult female dorsal features

• Scapular grooves are present
• Cornua absent
• Tarsi I is tapered
• Punctations are distinct
• Unfed female can measure between 3.0mm and 3.6mm in length
• Engorged females can measure up to 11mm in length

Adult female dorsal view and adult female close up of gnathosoma. (Click on pictures for a close up)

Adult female ventral features

• Auriculae are distinct
• Coxae I: long and distinct internal spurs
• Coxae II-IV: indistinct external spurs
• Genital aperture positioned between coxae IV

Adult female ventral view and adult female close up of coxae/ventral gnathosoma. (Click on pictures for a close up)

Adult male dorsal features

• Palps are small
• Tarsi I tapered
• Punctations are distinct
• Length of Male can range between 2.4mm-2.8mm

Adult male dorsal view and adult male close up of gnathosoma. (Click on pictures for a close up)

Adult male ventral features

• Auriculae are distinct
• Coxae I: long and distinct internal spurs
• Coxae II-IV: indistinct external spurs
• Pre-genital plate approx. 2x as long as it is broad
• Median plate long and narrow

Adult male ventral view and adult male close up of coxae/ventral gnathosoma. (Click on pictures for a close up)