Ixodes ricinus Linnaeus, 1756 (Fig. 1)

Material examined: Sakar Mts, NE of Balgarska Polyana Vill., edge of mixed forest, roadside vegetation (Fig. 3), 42°02'23.4"N 26°12'34.8"E, 415 m. a.s.l., 12.v.2024, 1 ♀ (BFUS-ACR 000014), net sweeping, D. Gradinarov leg.

Notes: In Bulgaria I. ricinus is one of the most widespread tick species, as it prevails in mountainous and semi-mountainous areas with sufficient humidity (Georgieva & Gecheva 2013). This species is dependent on a humid microclimate and is less tolerant of excessive heat and desiccation (Estrada-Peñа et al. 2017). It seems that the arid conditions in the Sakar Mountains are the reason for this single finding in the present study.