Faunistic and ecological notes on ticks (Acari : Ixodidae, Argasidae) in the extended area of Belgrade

Abstract

To obtain better understanding of epidemiological and epizootiological agents inside a specific region, faunistic and ecological investigations of ticks in the Belgrade area were carried out between 1993 and 1995. Out of the ten species of the Ixodidae family occurring in Serbia, six species of ticks were found in the investigated area, namely: Ixodes ricinus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Haemaphysalis punctata, Haemaphysalis inermis, Dermacentor marginatus and Dermacentor reticulatus (syn: pictus). We should stress the importance of the first finding of the last species on dogs in the area of Belgrade. Two species of the Argasidae family: Argas persicus and Argas reflexus were also detected. The faunistic composition, relative abundance, population dynamics and the sex ratio of the detected species were investigated.