Ixodes pacificus
Ixodes pacificus
Ixodes pacificus (pronounced: iks-oh-deez pah-sih-fih-kus), commonly known as the Western black-legged tick, is a species of tick in the Ixodidae family.
Etymology
The genus name Ixodes is derived from the Greek word 'ixodes', meaning sticky or gluey, referring to the tick's ability to adhere to its host. The species name pacificus refers to its distribution along the Pacific coast of North America.
Description
Ixodes pacificus is a hard-bodied tick, characterized by a tough, shield-like scutum on the dorsal side of the adult male. The females and nymphs are less sclerotized but still possess a scutum. The mouthparts are visible from above and are much shorter than the basis capituli (the base of the "head").
Distribution and habitat
Ixodes pacificus is found predominantly in the western region of North America, particularly along the Pacific coast. Its preferred habitats are areas with high humidity and moderate temperatures, such as woodlands, grasslands, and shrublands.
Medical significance
Ixodes pacificus is a known vector of Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. It can also transmit Anaplasma phagocytophilum, which causes human granulocytic anaplasmosis, and Babesia species, which cause babesiosis.
Related terms
- Ixodidae: The family to which Ixodes pacificus belongs.
- Tick: The common name for the small arachnids in the order Parasitiformes.
- Vector (epidemiology): An organism that does not cause disease itself but which spreads infection by conveying pathogens from one host to another.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Ixodes pacificus
- Wikipedia's article - Ixodes pacificus
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