Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus

Also known as the Blue cattle tick, Texas cattle fever tick, cattle fever tick

Hosts

Cattle, horse, sheep, dog

Distribution

Central and southern regions of the Mediterranean

Pathogenesis

Cattle: Babesia bigemina, Babesia bovis, Anaplasma marginale

Description

Adult female dorsal features

• Porose areas are broad and oval
• Palps are ridged dorsally and laterally
• Basis capituli is hexagonal dorsally
• Unfed females can measure 2.0mm-3.0mm in length
• Engorged females can measure up to 12mm in length

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

Adult female ventral features

• Coxae I: indistinct paired internal and external spurs
• Coxae II-IV: internal and external spurs absent
  

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

Adult male dorsal features

• Cornua are distinct
• Caudal appendage is absent
• Ventral plates are not visible dorsally
• Adanal shields and accessory adanal shields may be visible dorsally in fed males
• Can measure between 2.0mm-3.0mm in length

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

Adult male ventral features

• Coxae I: paired, unequal short internal and external spurs
• Coxae II-IV: internal and external spurs absent
• Ventral plate spurs are indistinct
• Accessory adanal shields are present and large
• Adanal shields are present

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