The ixodid ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) of Cuba

Abstract

The Neotropical tick fauna includes approximately 200 species belonging to the families Argasidae and Ixodidae. Of the 32 species reported from Cuba, 23 are argasids and nine belong to four ixodid genera (Ixodes, Amblyomma, Dermacentor, and Rhipicephalus). Ixodes capromydis, a Cuban endemic species, is the only prostriate tick, whereas Metastriata are represented by five Amblyomma (A. albopictum, A. cajennense, A. dissimile, A. quadricavum, and A. torrei), one Dermacentor (D. nitens), and two Rhipicephalus species (R. sanguineus and R. (Boophilus) microplus). Herein, we illustrate diagnostic characters and provide a taxonomic key for the Cuban adult Ixodidae based on optical and scanning electron microscopy. For each species, we provide information about the material we examined, geographical distribution, and host association.