Ixodidae
Ixodidae
Taxonomy
- Kingdom Animalia
- Phylum Arthropoda
- Class Arachnida
- Order Ixodida
- Family Ixodidae
Final host
Mammal, birds and reptiles
Morphology
Macroscopic parasites with a rigid chitinous scutum which covers the entire dorsal surface of the adult male whereas it covers only a small area in the adult female and in the larva and nimph Relatively large ticks flattened dorsoventrally The gnathosome (anterior and visible from above) consists of two dorsal chelicerae, two protective palps and a single ventromedial piece, the hypostome, which lies below the chelicerae The gnathosome is inserted in a structure called "basis capituli"
Cycle
Direct, with 4 stages (egg, larva, nimph and adult). Depending on the species (one-host, two-hosts or three-hosts cycle)
Location
Skin surface (temporary parasites)
Feeding
Haematophagous (all stages)
Diagnostic
Larvae, nymphs and adults
Transmission
Larvae, nymphs and adults