Dermacentor variabilis

Dermacentor variabilis
Dermacentor variabilis
Systematics
Subclass : Mites (acari) Superordinate : Parasitiformes Order : Ticks (ixodida or metastigmata) Family : Shield ticks (ixodidae) Genre : Colored ticks ( Dermacentor ) Type : Dermacentor variabilis
Scientific name
Dermacentor variabilis
( Say , 1821)

Dermacentor variabilis is a member of the genus of the spotted ticks . The tick species is native to the United States and occurs primarily in the eastern two-thirds of the country. The main host of the adults are dogs, occasionally cats or humans are also attacked. Larvae and nymphs attack small rodents. The parasite can cause tick paralysis and is a vector for Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Colorado tick fever in humans. It can alsotransmit tularemia , ehrlichiosis and borreliosis in dogs,and bovine anaplasmosis in cattle.

features

Males are 3 to 4 mm long, females 4 mm, when fully sucked up to 15 mm. D. variabilis is pale brown and the back shield shows gray ornaments. The mouthparts are short. The base of the capitulum is broad and short. The first pair of legs has a distinct thorn.

development

Distribution area of D. variabilis

D. variabilis is three host. Females suckle on their host for up to two weeks, then drop off and lay 4,000 to 6,500 eggs. The larvae hatch from these after four weeks and look for a host. After four to five days, they fall off and molt into nymphs. This sucks on a rodent for five to six days and then falls off in order to molt into an adult. Under favorable conditions, development takes three months.

Web links

Commons : Dermacentor variabilis  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ^ ^{A b c} R. Wall, D. Shearer: Veterinary Entomology: Arthropod Ectoparasites of Veterinary Importance . Springer Science & Business Media, 2012, ISBN 978-94-011-5852-7 , pp. 123 .