Cattle tick

A one-host cattle tick of tropical and subtropical regions, historically important in bovine babesiosis control and eradication programmes.

Cattle are the principal host; other large mammals may be infested.

Occurs in parts of Africa, the Mediterranean region, the Middle East and elsewhere in suitable warm climates. It was eradicated from much of the United States but remains a regulated concern.

Species-level confirmation should use appropriate morphological keys and, where necessary, expert 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 and feeding-related expansion; confirm stage and sex using an appropriate 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.

Occurs in parts of Africa, the Mediterranean region, the Middle East and elsewhere in suitable warm climates. It was eradicated from much of the United States but remains a regulated concern.

A confirmed vector of bovine Babesia species. This is primarily a veterinary and livestock-biosecurity concern.

Cattle are the principal host; other large mammals may be infested.

A confirmed vector of bovine Babesia species. This is primarily a veterinary and livestock-biosecurity concern.

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

Veterinary relevance is based on documented host use, livestock exposure and separately cited transmission evidence.

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.