Ixodes vespertilionis

Also known as the Long-legged bat tick

Hosts

Bats

Distribution

Wales, South West England, Ireland, France, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Spain, Italy

Ixodes vespertilionis is generally found in caves- close to roots of bats, females can often be found on host but males are found on the walls of the caves

Pathogenesis

Bats: Tick-borne encephalitis virus, Kul virus

Description

Adult female dorsal features

• Long slender legs
• Palps long and narrow
• Porose areas large and close together
• Cornua absent
• Tarsus I elongated
• Unfed females can measure between 4.4mm-4.8mm in length
• Engorged females can measure up to 10mm in length

Adult female dorsal view (click on pictures for a close up)

Adult female ventral features

• Auriculae absent
• Coxae I: lacks spurs
• Coxae II-IV: lack spurs
• Genital aperture between coxae III

Adult female ventral view (click on pictures for a close up)

Adult male dorsal features

• Long slender legs
• Palps club-like; hypostome reduced
  
• Cornua absent
• Tarsus I elongated
• Males can measure between 4.0mm-4.4mm in length

(Specimen courtesy of the Natural History Museum, London)

Adult male dorsal view (click on pictures for a close up)

Adult male ventral features

• Auriculae absent
• Coxae I: lacks spurs
• Coxae II-IV: lack spurs
• Pregenital plate small
• Adanal plates similar length as median plate

(Specimen courtesy of the Natural History Museum, London)

Adult male ventral view (click on pictures for a close up)