African blue tick / blue tick

A one-host African cattle tick associated mainly with cattle and other large herbivores in suitable regions of sub-Saharan Africa.

An economically important cattle tick and a vector of bovine babesiosis agents. In some areas it is being displaced by invasive Rhipicephalus microplus.

Reported across parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Local abundance and establishment must be interpreted from country-level surveillance.

Species-level confirmation should use authoritative morphological keys and, where necessary, expert or molecular examination. Photographs, host and location alone may be insufficient.

Identification requires the complete combination of family, genus and species-level morphological characters.

Use authoritative comparative keys; do not rely on colour, size, host or geography as a single diagnostic feature.

Photographs alone cannot always confirm this species.

Adult males and females differ in dorsal shield coverage, body proportions and feeding-related expansion; confirm stage and sex with an appropriate species key.

Egg, larva, nymph and adult stages are present; host-use pattern is species-specific.

Seasonal activity varies geographically and should be interpreted from local surveillance.

Reported across parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Local abundance and establishment must be interpreted from country-level surveillance.

This species is primarily of veterinary importance. Pathogen or host records should not be converted into unsupported human-risk claims.

An economically important cattle tick and a vector of bovine babesiosis agents. In some areas it is being displaced by invasive Rhipicephalus microplus.

This species is primarily of veterinary importance. Pathogen or host records should not be converted into unsupported human-risk claims.

Human-health relevance is stated only where governed evidence supports human biting or transmission; otherwise no human-vector claim is made.

Cattle surveillance should distinguish this one-host blue tick from related Rhipicephalus species because distribution, resistance and control programmes differ.

Use habitat-appropriate tick avoidance, animal inspection and veterinary-led control.

Remove attached ticks promptly using evidence-based guidance and seek medical or veterinary advice when indicated.