Experimental and Applied Acarology (2017) 72, 93-101

Mackenzie Lamont Kwak (2017)
Keys for the morphological identification of the Australian paralysis ticks (Acari: Ixodidae), with scanning electron micrographs
Experimental and Applied Acarology 72 (1), 93-101
Abstract: The Australian paralysis ticks (Ixodes: Sternalixodes) are of considerable medical and veterinary importance within Australia. This is because of their ability to cause paralysis but also their capacity to transmit pathogens and induce allergic reactions. The available keys for the identification of the group (Ixodes holocyclus Neumann, Ixodes cornuatus Roberts, and Ixodes hirsti Hassall) are ambiguous and contain errors, making accurate identification of the group difficult. Illustrations of varying quality and accuracy of these species have been published in the past; however, they have never been collectively treated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Female Australian paralysis ticks are here examined using SEM, and the first pictorial key for this group is presented along with an accurate text key.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
identification/taxonomy
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Ixodes holocyclus
	Ixodes cornuatus
	Ixodes hirsti