Ixodes ricinus Linnaeus, 1756

Kolarova, Nevena, Gradinarov, Denis & Petrova, Yana, 2024, Hard ticks (Acari: Ixodida) in Sakar Mountains, SE Bulgaria, ZooNotes 2024 (S 15), pp. 20-31 : 21

Ixodes ricinus Linnaeus, 1756 ( Fig. 1 )

Material examined: Sakar Mts, NE of Balgarska Polyana Vill., edge of mixed forest, roadside vegetation ( Fig. 3 ), 42°02'23.4"N 26°12'34.8"E, 415 m. a.s.l., 12.v.2024, 1 ♀ ( BFUS-ACR 000014 ), net sweeping, D. Gradinarov leg.

Notes: In Bulgaria I. ricinus is one of the most widespread tick species, as it prevails in mountainous and semi-mountainous areas with sufficient humidity ( Georgieva & Gecheva 2013). This species is dependent on a humid microclimate and is less tolerant of excessive heat and desiccation ( Estrada-Peñа et al. 2017). It seems that the arid conditions in the Sakar Mountains are the reason for this single finding in the present study.

Figures

Fig. 1. Female of Ixodes ricinus, NE of Balgarska Polyana Village, 12.v.2024. A – dorsal view; B – ventral view. Scale bar: 1 mm.

Fig. 3. Sakar Mts, NE of Balgarska Polyana Village, 12.v.2024. Habitats of Ixodes ricinus, Rhipicephalus turanicus and Hyalomma marginatum.