Dermacentor
Dermacentor
Dermacentor (pronounced: der-ma-cen-tor) is a genus of ticks in the family Ixodidae, commonly known as the hard ticks.
Etymology
The name Dermacentor is derived from the Greek words derma, meaning skin, and centor, meaning puncturer. This refers to the tick's behavior of attaching itself to the skin of its host and puncturing the skin to feed.
Description
Dermacentor ticks are characterized by their hard, shield-like scutum and their mouthparts, which are visible from above. They are typically brown or black in color, and can vary in size depending on their feeding status.
Behavior
Dermacentor ticks are ectoparasites, meaning they live on the outside of their host's body. They feed on the blood of mammals, birds, and sometimes reptiles and amphibians. They are known to transmit a number of diseases, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia.
Species
There are approximately 34 species of Dermacentor ticks, including the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis) and the Rocky Mountain wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni).
Related Terms
- Ixodidae: The family of hard ticks to which Dermacentor belongs.
- Ectoparasite: An organism that lives on the outside of its host's body.
- Scutum: The hard, shield-like structure on the back of a tick.
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever: A disease transmitted by Dermacentor ticks.
- Tularemia: Another disease transmitted by Dermacentor ticks.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Dermacentor
- Wikipedia's article - Dermacentor
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