Haemaphysalis concinna

Haemaphysalis concinna is a common rodent tick species that originally predominantly occurred in Russia and Eastern Europe,^[1] but is also known from Japan, China, Germany and France.^[2]

Haemaphysalis concinna
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Ixodida
Family:	Ixodidae
Genus:	Haemaphysalis
Species:	H. concinna
Binomial name
Haemaphysalis concinna C. L. Koch, 1844

It is known to act as a vector of tickborne disease.^[1]

Females reach a length of three to four mm, but can grow up to ten mm when engorged; males are about three mm long. An unfed nymph is under two mm long. There are more males than females.^[2]

The tick can be found in the warm temperate climate zone of deciduous and mixed forests across Europe and Asia. It prefers moist habitats lake shores or river banks.^[3] In China, it has been found in northeastern regions including Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, and Inner Mongolia.^[4]

All three stages target different hosts, the eggs are laid on the ground. They mate on their host around April.^[2]

Nymphs and larvae feed on small mammals such as rodents or hedgehogs, or on birds, reptiles, and humans. Adults prefer larger mammals, ranging from cats to horses, again including humans.^[2]

H. concinna can act as a vector for Francisella tularensis (causing tularaemia), Rickettsia sibirica (Siberian tick typhus), Rickettsia heilongjiangensis (Far-Eastern spotted fever), Virus of Russian spring-summer encephalitis (RSSE) and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE).^[2] It is a likely vector of Wetland virus.^[3]

• Systematik von Zecken: List of all described Haemaphysalis species
• Tick Identification Key: Identification of adults in genus Haemaphysalis