The Ixodidae are the family of hard ticks or scale ticks, [1] one of the three families of ticks, consisting of over 700 species. They are known as 'hard ticks' because they have a scutum or hard shield, which the other major family of ticks, the 'soft ticks' (Argasidae), lack.

Ticks are parasitic arachnids of the order Ixodida. They are part of the mite superorder Parasitiformes. Adult ticks are approximately 3 to 5 mm in length depending on age, sex, species, and "fullness". Ticks are external parasites, living by feeding on the blood of mammals, birds, and sometimes reptiles and amphibians.

Feb 26, 2025 · Ticks are ectoparasitic arachnids belonging to the order Ixodida under the superorder Parasitiformes. They are extremely resilient arthropods that feed solely on vertebrate blood, often acting as a vector for transmitting pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoans, to the host’s body and causing infectious diseases.

There are many genera and species of ticks in the families Ixodidae (hard ticks) and Argasidae (soft ticks) that are of public health importance.

Ticks (order Ixodida) are parasitic arachnids that are part of the mite superorder Parasitiformes. Adult ticks are approximately 3 to 5 mm in length depending on age, sex, species, and "fullness". Ticks are external parasites, living by feeding on the blood of mammals, birds, and sometimes reptiles and amphibians.

Feb 27, 2025 · tick, (suborder Ixodida), any of about 825 species of invertebrates in the order Parasitiformes (subclass Acari). Ticks are important parasites of large wild and domestic animals and are also significant as carriers of serious diseases.

Apr 1, 2024 · Pictorial key to the adults of hard ticks, family Ixodidae (Ixodida: Ixodoidea), east of the Mississippi River Keirans J.E., Litwak T.R. 1989. J. Med. Entomol. 26: 435-448.

Nov 5, 2020 · References to the descriptions and redescriptions of the 742 species of Ixodidae published from 1758 to December 31, 2019 are compiled, with the goal of enabling tick taxonomists to readily access this diffuse and often confusing literature.

Generally, there are two families of ticks: hard ticks (Ixodidae) and soft ticks (Argasidae). The “hard” and “soft” parts of the family names refer to the shield-like structure at the back of the hard ticks’ bodies. The soft ticks lack this structure.

Ixodes is a genus of hard-bodied ticks (family Ixodidae). It includes important disease vectors of animals and humans (tick-borne disease), and some species (notably Ixodes holocyclus) inject toxins that can cause paralysis. Some ticks in this genus may transmit the pathogenic bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi [3] responsible for causing Lyme disease.