Ixodes cookei Packard

Reeves, Will K., Durden, Lance A., Ritzi, Christopher M., Beckham, Katy R., Super, Paul E & Oconnor, Barry M., 2007, Ectoparasites and other ectosymbiotic arthropods of vertebrates in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA, Zootaxa 1392, pp. 31-68 : 50

Ixodes cookei Packard

Ex Canis lupus (domestic dog): 2 F, NC, Haywood Co., Purchase Knob, W. K. Reeves, 31 Jul. 2003, L­ 3089.

Ex Canis rufus (red wolf—introduced): 2 N, TN, Sevier Co., Sugarland Mountain, 25 Jul. 1997, R. D. Keller, RML 122539;

Ex Marmota monax (woodchuck): 1 L, NC, Swain Co., Smokemont, 22 Aug. 2002, W. K. Reeves, L­ 2988.

Ex Procyon lotor (raccoon): 3 F, TN, Blount Co., Cades Cove, 1979, V. Major & A. Rabinowitz, RML 64584 ; TN, Blount Co., Cades Cove, 1979­1980 (Rabinowitz et al. 1983); 1 N, GSMNP, 28 Sep. 1986, R. Thompson, RML 119896; 2 F, 8 N, 1 L, GSMNP, 26 Feb. 1987, R. Thompson, RML 119898; 3 N, GSMNP, 4 Sep. 1988, R. Thompson, RML 119894; 1 N, 1 L, GSMNP, 4 Sep. 1988, R. Thompson, RML 119895; 3 N, GSMNP, date not given, R. Thompson, RML 119899.

This tick mainly parasitizes carnivores such as raccoons, foxes, and mustelids across North America (Bishopp & Trembley 1945, Durden & Keirans 1996). Ixodes cookei is a vector of Powassan encephalitis virus in the northeastern US (Main et al. 1979), but the vector potential of this tick and status of the virus in the GSMNP has not been studied.