Abstract
Ixodes ricinus shows the characteristic external morphological features of Parasitiformes; i.e. the body is regionalized into the gnathosoma with the mouthparts, the idiosoma, and the podosoma with the legs. The capitulum contains the basis capituli, the chelicerae, the pedipalps, and the hypostome, which is an unpaired, ventral extension of the capitulum with lateral rows of recurved teeth for attachment to the host skin. Ixodes ricinus is sex dimorphic in size and morphology. In males, the idiosoma carries several sclerotized plates. In females, the idiosoma carries a dorsal scutum, but the rest of the body is soft, flexible, and extensible. In females, only the spiracular plates of the respiratory system and the cuticular flaps of the anal aperture are sclerotized. Nymphs and larvae show the female pattern of sclerotization, i.e. have a soft idiosoma.
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