Dermacentor
Guides
Dermacentor occidentalis
Pacific Coast tick
Dermacentor occidentalis, commonly known as the Pacific Coast tick, is a hard tick in the family Ixodidae native to western North America. Unfed adults measure approximately 4.5 mm in length with a distinctive silvery-gray exoskeleton. This species is a known vector of several human pathogens including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Pacific Coast tick fever, and tularemia, though it does not transmit Lyme disease. The tick exhibits a three-host life cycle, feeding on a wide range of mammalian, avian, and reptilian hosts throughout its development.
Dermacentor similis
Western Dog Tick
Dermacentor similis is a recently described hard tick species (2021) previously misidentified as western populations of Dermacentor variabilis. Molecular and morphological analyses confirmed it as a distinct species restricted to western North America. Like its eastern counterpart, it is a three-host tick with significant medical and veterinary importance, though its specific vector competence for pathogens remains under investigation.
Ixodes affinis
Ixodes affinis is a hard-bodied tick species distributed across the southeastern United States, Mexico, Central America, and South America. Unlike its congener Ixodes scapularis, this species does not bite humans but serves as a competent vector for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, the causative agent of Lyme disease. Immature stages feed on birds and small mammals, while adults parasitize larger mammals including deer and dogs. Its expanding range into southeastern Virginia and association with migratory birds has raised concerns about its role in pathogen dispersal.
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