Dermacentor similis
| Dermacentor similis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Ixodida |
| Family: | Ixodidae |
| Genus: | Dermacentor |
| Species: | D. similis |
| Binomial name | |
| Dermacentor similis Lado, Glon, and Klompen, 2021 | |
Dermacentor similis is the Western United States tick species corresponding to Dermacentor variabilis in the Eastern United States.[1][2]
Using an integrative taxonomy framework, analyses comprising mitochondrial and nuclear molecular markers and morphology of specimens collected from central-eastern and western United States yielded strong evidence that D. variabilis corresponds to two species, Dermacentor variabilis in the east and Dermacentor similis n. sp. in the west.[2][1]
Since Dermacentor variabilis is a three-host tick and the transmitter of several pathogens, it is crucial to delineate Dermacentor similis' host range and vector competency to establish what pathogens it may transmit.[2]
References
[edit]- 1 2 Paula Lado, Mael G Glon, Hans Klompen. 2021. Integrative Taxonomy of Dermacentor variabilis (Ixodida: Ixodidae) with Description of a New Species, Dermacentor similis n. sp. Journal of Medical Entomology, Volume 58, Issue 6, November 2021 (published 11 August 2021), pp. 2216–2227, https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjab134.
- 1 2 3 Melissa Mayer: "Study Shows American Dog Ticks in Western U.S. Are a Separate Species," Entomology Today, August 25, 2021, https://entomologytoday.org/2021/08/25/american-dog-ticks-western-new-species-dermacentor-similis/, accessed 3 Jun 2025.