Hedgehog tick

Family: Ixodidae. Genus: Ixodes. Tick type: hard tick.

Taxonomic authority: Leach, 1815.

Recorded life-cycle stages: egg, larva, nymph, adult.

Ixodes genus: eyes and festoons absent; anal groove anterior to the anus.

Adult female palps slope inward and tarsus I is stepped.

Adult male has a broad oval body and a median ventral plate almost as wide as long.

Microscopic characters may be required; photographs alone cannot always confirm the species.

Ixodes genus: eyes and festoons absent; anal groove anterior to the anus.

Adult female palps slope inward and tarsus I is stepped.

Adult male has a broad oval body and a median ventral plate almost as wide as long.

ESCCAP illustrates a broadly hexagonal female scutum compared with the more rounded scutum of Ixodes ricinus.

Microscopic characters may be required; photographs alone cannot always confirm the species.

Photographs alone cannot always confirm a tick species.

three_host_nidicolous

Approximately three years is reported by ESCCAP UK & Ireland.

Parasitic stages usually feed for about 7–8 days on nest-dwelling hosts.

ESCCAP reports activity beginning around February, a spring peak around April–May, a decline in June–July and a second peak from August to October, with possible winter activity in nests.

Seasonality is local and climate-dependent.

UKHSA describes the species as ubiquitous on hedgehogs; surveillance records occur across the UK.

Human infestations and increasing surveillance incidence of human bites are reported, but it is less important to UK human health than Ixodes ricinus.

Human-biting evidence status: confirmed bites.

undefined: detected or associated; transmission significance unresolved.

Babesia microti: association reported; vector competence not asserted here.

Rickettsia conorii: association reported; vector competence not asserted here.

A common tick of cats and the second most common tick reported on dogs by ESCCAP UK & Ireland.

Veterinary relevance status: high companion animal relevance.

Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato

detected_or_associated; transmission significance unresolved

Babesia microti

association_reported; vector competence not asserted here

Rickettsia conorii

association_reported; vector competence not asserted here

confirmed_bites

Human infestations and increasing surveillance incidence of human bites are reported, but it is less important to UK human health than Ixodes ricinus.

Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato

detected_or_associated; transmission significance unresolved

Babesia microti

association_reported; vector competence not asserted here

Rickettsia conorii

association_reported; vector competence not asserted here

high_companion_animal_relevance

A common tick of cats and the second most common tick reported on dogs by ESCCAP UK & Ireland.

Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato

detected_or_associated; transmission significance unresolved

Babesia microti

association_reported; vector competence not asserted here

Rickettsia conorii

association_reported; vector competence not asserted here