Australian cattle tick

A one-host cattle tick established in tropical and subtropical parts of Australia and an important livestock parasite.

A major cattle parasite associated with production loss and transmission of bovine babesiosis agents. Control should follow current veterinary and biosecurity guidance.

Established primarily across northern Australia in climatically suitable cattle-producing areas. Regulatory zones and occurrence can change.

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.

Established primarily across northern Australia in climatically suitable cattle-producing areas. Regulatory zones and occurrence can change.

This species is primarily of veterinary and livestock-biosecurity importance; no general human disease-vector claim is made here.

A major cattle parasite associated with production loss and transmission of bovine babesiosis agents. Control should follow current veterinary and biosecurity guidance.

This species is primarily of veterinary and livestock-biosecurity importance; no general human disease-vector claim is made here.

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

Herd management requires regionally approved acaricide, movement and surveillance measures because infestation affects cattle condition and can sustain cattle-tick-fever transmission.

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.