Host relationships of Ixodes arvicolae Warburton on the Scilly Isles

Abstract

Ixodes arvicolae Warburton was collected at 2-monthly intervals from January 1961 to August 1962 on a total of 226 Apodemus sylvaticus and 264 Crocidura suaveolens cassiteridum in the Scilly Isles. Twenty-one adult females (out of a total forty-two ticks) were found on Apodemus and one adult female (out of a total 106 ticks) on Crocidura. No adult males were found. Ticks were collected from the hosts throughout the year, but in Crocidura there was a suggestion of greater frequency for larvae during the summer. I. arvicolae was also found on Mus musculus in the Scilly Isles and on Microtus agrestis in Cornwall.We wish to thank Professor D. R. Arthur of King's College, University of London, for identification of the ticks involved in this study, and Dr Alec Milne of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne for helpful criticism of the manuscript.