The ticks (Acari: Ixodida: Argasidae, Ixodidae) of Brazil

Abstract

The tick species found in Brazil are reviewed. Today, 61 species belonging to nine genera (Argas (1 sp.), Antricola (3 spp.), Carios (10 spp.), Ornithodoros (3 spp.), Amblyomma (30 spp.), Dermacentor (1 sp.), Haemaphysalis (3 spp.), Ixodes (8 spp.), and Rhipicephalus (2 spp.)) are regarded as endemic or established in Brazil. The presence of 11 species (Amblyomma albopictum, Amblyomma fulvum, Amblyomma hirtum, Amblyomma multipunctum, Amblyomma pseudoparvum, Amblyomma scutatum, Aponomma omissum, Argas persicus, Carios puertoricensis, Ixodes pararicinus, and Rhipicephalus turanicus) is doubtful or requires confirmation. Reports of nine species (Amblyomma americanum, Amblyomma extraoculatum, Amblyomma imitator, Amblyomma maculatum, Dermacentor andersoni, Ixodes affinis, Ixodes cooleyi, Ixodes ricinus, and Rhipicephalus annulatus) are regarded as erroneous due to misidentifications or misleading information. Ten species (Amblyomma argentinae, Amblyomma darwini, Amblyomma parvitarsum, Bothriocroton undatum, Hyalomma aegyptium, Hyalomma dromedarii, Hyalomma marginatum, Otobius megnini, Rhipicephalus bursa, and Rhipicephalus evertsi) are exotic ticks that have probably failed to establish themselves in this country. Eight species (Amblyomma denticulatum, Ixodes imperfectus, Ixodes flavidus, Ixodes maloni, Ixodes perpunctatus, Ixodes pygmaeus, Ixodes serrafreirei, and Ixodes variolatus) are regarded as invalid because of inadequate descriptions. Finally, over 60 tick names cited as part of the Brazilian fauna are actually misspellings, misapplied names, or species that have fallen into synonymy.