Ecological notes on ticks, Acari: Ixodidae, in Serbia, central regions

Abstract

A survey of ticks was undertaken in some regions of central Serbia (1998-2000). Out of 10 species of the family Ixodidae occurring in Serbia seven species were found in the investigated regions, namely: Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor marginatus, Dermacentor reticulatus syn. pictus Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Rhipicephalus bursa, Haemaphysalis punctata and Boophilus annulatus. The faunistic composition, relative abundance population dynamics and the sex ratio of the detected species were investigated. The temperature, relative humidity and rainfall were monitored in terms of their respective effects on the dynamics of tick populations.