Also known as the Northern bird tick

Hosts

Pigeon, falcon, swift, crow, starling, crossbill, fulmar

 

Distribution

Scotland, North England, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Poland, Russia

Ixodes caledonicus are normally found in nests on cliffs or buildings

 

Pathogenesis

Not Known

 

Description

Adult female dorsal features

  • Palps and hypostome club-like
  • Cornua distinct but wide
  • Tarsus I tapers obliquely
  • Unfed females can measure between 3.5mm-3.8mm in length
  • Engorged females can measure up to 9.0mm in length

Ixodes_caledonicus_f-tray87-dorsal-3_2x 0 femaledorsal

(Specimen courtesy of the Natural History Museum, London)

Adult female dorsal view (click on pictures for a close up)

Adult female ventral features

  • Auriculae present and appears wrinkled
  • Coxae I:short internal and external spurs
  • Coxae II-IV: distinct but short external spurs

Ixodes_caledonicus_f-tray87-ventral-3_2x 0 femaleventral

(Specimen courtesy of the Natural History Museum, London)

Adult female ventral view (click on pictures for a close up)

Adult male dorsal features

  • Palps and hypostome club-like
  • Cornua absent
  • Tarsus I tapers obliquely
  • Males can measure between 3.2mm-3.5mm

Adult male ventral features

  • Auriculae absent
  • Coxae I: short external spur and a indistinct internal spur
  • Coxae II-IV: distinct but short external spurs