Ixodes ovatus Neumann, 1899

Petney, Trevor N., Boulanger, Nathalie, Saijuntha, Weerachai, Chitimia-Dobler, Lidia, Pfeffer, Martin, Eamudomkarn, Chatanun, Andrews, Ross H., Ahamad, Mariana, Putthasorn, Noppadon, Muders, Senta V., Petney, David A. & Robbins, Richard G., 2019, Ticks (Argasidae, Ixodidae) and tick-borne diseases of continental Southeast Asia, Zootaxa 4558 (1), pp. 1-89 : 32

Ixodes ovatus Neumann, 1899

Ixodes ovatus is found from Japan westward to northeastern India and Nepal, including Myanmar, Thailand, Lao PDR ( Robbins et al. 1997) and Vietnam ( Hoogstraal et al. 1973a; Kolonin 1992, 2009). Filippova (1977) considers this tick to be a representative of the Sino-Himalayan subregion of the Palearctic Region.

Adults infest a range of large wild and domestic mammals and frequently attack humans ( Sakai et al. 1976; Yamaguti and Takada 1981; Heath and Hardwick 2011). Immature stages are found predominantly on rodents.

Ixodes ovatus occurs in a wide range of habitats, from low altitudes to 5,000 m above sea level ( Fujimoto and Yamaguti 1987; Hoogstraal et al. 1973a). As there are structural differences characteristic of each developmental stage that are dependent on geographical location ( Hoogstraal et al. 1973a), this taxon may represent a species complex. It is thus in need of revision (Guglielmone et al. 2009) . Biological and ecological data for this species are available for Japanese populations ( Fujisaki et al. 1976; Fujimoto 1990, 1987; Fujimoto et al. 1986; Fujimoto and Yamaguti 1990; Kakuda et al. 1989).

All life history stages are illustrated in Yamaguti et al. (1971) and Hoogstraal et al. (1973a).