Ixodes uriae larva (figure adapted from Arthur (1963)) (click on thumbnail for larger image).

Ixodes uriae nymph (figure adapted from Arthur (1963)) (click on thumbnail for larger image).

Ixodes uriae female (figure adapted from Arthur (1963) and www.maladies-a-tiques.com/Ecosysteme_.htm) (click on thumbnail for larger image).

Ixodes uriae male (figure adapted from Arthur (1963) and www.maladies-a-tiques.com/Ecosysteme_.htm) (click on thumbnail for larger image).

Species name

Ixodes uriae White, 1852

Common name

Common seabird tick
Seabird tick
Seevogelzecke

Naming history

Ixodes uriae White, 1852 (accepted name)

Synonyms and misapplied names:
Ceratixodes borealis Banks, 1907 (synonym)
Ceratixodes putus Neumann, 1902 (synonym)
Ceratixodes putus procellariae Schulze, 1932 (synonym)
Ceratixodes uriae Schulze, 1938 (synonym)
Ceratoxidus uriae Andr�, 1947 (misapplied name)
Dermacentor rosmari Ass, 1935 (synonym)
Hyalomma puta Packard-Cambridge, 1976 (synonym)
Ixodes borealis Kramer & Neumann, 1833 (synonym)
Ixodes fimbriatus Kramer & Neumann, 1883 (synonym)
Ixodes hirsutus Birula, 1895 (synonym)
Ixodes putus Neumann, 1899 (synonym)
Ixodes putus procellariae Schulze, 1932 (synonym)
Ixodes (Ceratixodes) hirsutus Neumann, 1911 (synonym)
Ixodes (Ceratixodes) putus Neumann, 1904 (synonym)

Hosts

Globally I. uriae is associated with a wide range of seabirds.

Description of larva

Adapted from Arthur (1963) and Roberts (1970).

• Body fully-fed specimens broadly oval, up to 2.2 by 1.62 mm; hairs few, short.
• Capitulum Length from dorsal ridge to tip of hypostome 0.23 mm, greatest width of 0.21 mm behind palpal insertion.
  • Basis capituli posterior margin of basis straight, lateral margins weakly divergent and almost straight to insertion of segment 1. Surface convex.
  • Palpi palpal segment I prominent dorsally II and III fused and clavate when seen dorsally. Combined length of II and III 0.125 mm. In ventral view basis narrowly rounded posteriorly, lateral margins straight and divergent anteriorly. Palpal segment 4, when protracted, as in nymph.
  • Hypostome length about 0.12mm. Broad and rounded apically; dentition 2/2 for six to eight rows.
• Scutum length 0.44-0.51 mm, width 0.32-0.4 mm. Much the same shape as in the nymph and adult, except that posterior margin frequently straight.  Cervical grooves well defined and extending to the posterolateral margins; between these grooves the surface convex. Surface finely granulated.
• Anal grooves faint, divergent posteriorly.
• Legs
  • Coxae subtriangular and unarmed.
  • Tarsi taper abruptly subapically. Length of tarsus I, 0.32 mm, metatarsus I, 0.49.

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Description of nymph

Adapted from Arthur (1963) and Roberts (1970).

• Body Unfed specimen 1.1 by 1.0 mm, widest in region of spiracular plates which are situated posterior to mid-length; some scattered pale hairs dorsally, most numerous laterally. Engorged specimens attaining 3.4 by 2.1 mm.
• Capitulum Length 0.36-0.38 mm.
  • Basis capituli dorsally 0.32-0.35 mm wide, as in female.
  • Palps clavate as in female, except increase in width distally more gradual; article 1 large and conspicuous; articles 2 and 3 about 0.2 mm in length.
  • Hypostome about 0.22 mm in length, sides subparallel, apex rounded; dentition 2/2 of about 8 rows of strong teeth, and 1 row of 3/3 distally, some small teeth apically.
• Scutum shape much as in female, 0.80 by 0.60 mm-0.85 by 0.71 mm. Punctations unequal but mainly fine, fairly evenly distributed. Cervical grooves well defined, attaining posterolateral margins. Emargination mild.
• Spiracular plate Suboval, the longer axis transverse, 0.27 by 0.35 mm.
• Anal grooves Not always distinct, mildly curved and a little divergent posteriorly.
• Legs similar to female.
  • Coxae however, coxa I contiguous with basis.
  • Tarsi Length of tarsus I 0.42-0.45 mm, of tarsus IV 0.44-0.46 mm.
    

Description of female

Adapted from Arthur (1963) and Roberts (1970).

• Body Unfed specimens suboval, the spiracular plate visible from above, 3.7 by 2.8 mm-4.2 by 3.l mm; hairs numerous dorsally and ventrally, but may be sparse or absent on the ventral, anterior median region and on an area posterior to anus. Engorged specimens attaining 11.8 by 7.2 mm.
• Capitulum Length 0.60-0.74 mm. Basis dorsally 0.54-0.6O mm in width; posterior margin straight or mildly convex, posterolateral angles rounded, posterolateral margins mildly divergent anteriorly;
  • Porose areas large, broadly oval, the longer axis transverse, interval narrow; basis ventrally with surface convex., broadly rounded posteriorly, no auriculae.
  • Palps wide apart, curving towards mouthparts, 0.55-0.60 mm in length; article 1 large, rounded; articles 2 and 3 indistinctly separated, swollen and widest distally and giving palp a clavate appearance; article 4 often prominent from above.
  • Hypostome 0.36-0.42 mm in length, sides subparallel, apex rounded; dentition with 8 or 9 rows of strong, almost equal, bluntly pointed teeth arranged 2/2, a few rows of 3/3 much smaller teeth distally.
• Scutum Longer than wide, 1.4 by 1.1 mm-1.7 by 1.2 mm, widest anteriorly, glossy, convex between cervical grooves; posterolateral margins mildly sinuous, sometimes straight or weakly convex; posterior angle broadly rounded. Punctations numerous, unequal, fairly evenly distributed except posteriorly where they may be more scattered, sometimes confluent laterally. Cervical grooves distinct, attaining posterolateral margins. Lateral carinae lacking. Emargination mild. Scapulae shallow, rounded.
• Genital aperture On a level with second intercoxal space.
• Anal grooves Rounded anteriorly, subparallel posteriorly.
• Spiracular plate Broadly oval, the longer axis transverse, 0.48 by 0.41 mm.
• Legs Moderate in length, hairs few and short.
  • Coxae unarmed, about equal in size, convex, subtriangular.
  • Tarsi terminating abruptly each with a mild, dorsal, subterminal hump; length of tarsus I 0.79-1.07 mm, of tarsus IV 0.86-1.1 mm.
    

Description of male

Adapted from Arthur (1963) and Roberts (1970).

• Body Length 3.2-3.5 mm, widest in front of spiracles, the lateral margins behind spiracles usually subparallel; marginal body fold moderate in width. Body posteriorly with 5 lobes bearing tufts of long, strong hairs (really attached to ventral plates), and with a small tuft of similar hairs on each side arising from the marginal body fold and anterior to the large, external posterior tuft with which it frequently appears continuous; hairs otherwise short, pale and scattered.
• Capitulum Short, about 0.63-0.66 mm in length.
  • Basis capituli dorsally smooth and impunctate; posterolateral margins mildly curved and weakly divergent anteriorly; posterior margin straight or mildly concave; posterolateral angles rounded; cornua absent; basis ventrally long, the sides practically straight and mildly divergent anteriorly, rounded posteriorly; auriculae absent .
  • Palpi  longer than mouthparts, not flattened internally, pointed and upturned distally; article broad, rounded and conspicuous; articles 2 and 3 indistinctly separated, article 4 distant from apex of article 3; hairs not numerous, short and spine-like.
  • Hypostome 0.16 mm in length and reaching to about mid-length of palp, broad and bibbed distally; some faint crenulations on either side of apical indentation, arranged 1/1 or sometimes 2/2.
• Scutum Broadly oval, 2.9 by 2.0 mm - 3.4 by 2.4 mm, surface convex; posterolateral margins straight or mildly concave; broadly rounded, sometimes flattened posteriorly. No lateral grooves. Punctations relatively fine, evenly distributed. Cervical grooves distinct, diverging posteriorly to reach a large shallow depression on either side, Emargination moderately deep. Scapulae bluntly pointed.
• Genital aperture On a level with first intercoxal space.
• Ventral plates Pregenital plate wider than long, semilunar; median plate subtriangular, a little more than twice as long as broad, widest posteriorly where it terminates on a level with coxa IV: a slightly longer subtriangular accessory median plate on either side of median plate, bluntly pointed anteriorly; anal plate rounded posteriorly, subrectangular, lateral margins almost straight and mildly divergent, does not include anus; adanal plate subrectangular, the anterior and posterior margins convex; epimeral plate not as broad as adanal plate; anal, adanal and ephemeral plates well distant from median plate, extended posteriorly and carrying long, dense, bristle-like hairs; median and accessory plates faintly punctate; anal, adanal and epirneral plates with more distinct punctations.
• Spiracular plate Suboval, the longer axis transverse.
• Legs Relatively stout, moderate in length.
  • Coxae contiguous or almost so, unarmed.
  • Tarsi tapering gradually with a ventral, almost terminal, small denticle.
    

Disease relationships

Ixodes uriae has the abiliuty to vector a wide range of arboviruses as well as Borrelia burgdorferi.

Distribution

New Zealand: South Island and the following offshore Islands, Auckland, Antipodes, Campbell, and Snars.

Islands and coasts of temperate and frigid zones of the northern and southern hemispheres (reaches subtropics in the southern hemisphere).

In the northern hemisphere: France (Brittany); islands: Great Britain, Ireland, Hebrides, Shetlands, Faroe, Iceland, Greenland (southern), Jan-Mayen, and Lofoten; Canada (British Columbia, Newfoundland, New Scotland, islands in Gulf of Saint Lawrence, and Baffin Island); USA (Oregon, Alaska, Islands: Aleut, Prybylov, and Saint Lawrence); Japan (Hokkaido); Russia (Murman coast, islands in White Sea, Novaya Zemlya Islands, southeastern coast of Chukotka, coast of Tatar strait, islands: Komandor, Kuril, Iona, and Tyuleny).

In the southern hemisphere: Australia (New South Wales, Victoria, and King Island), New Zealand (South Island), South Africa, Fire Land and adjacent small islands, Antarctica (Antarctic Peninsula, Victoria Land, islands: Ross, Torgersen, Envers, and Humble), oceanic islands: Falklands, South Shetland, South Sandwich, South Georgia, Tristan da Cunha, Prince Edward, Crozets, Kerguelen, Heard, St. Paul, Maquarie, Auckland, Antipodes, Campbell, and Snars.

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Status in New Zealand

Naturalised

Comments, identifying features and similar species

Ixodes uriae is a three host tick that is associated only with seabirds.  It is widely distributed throughout the northern and southern hemisperes.  Females, nymphs and larvae in various stages of engorgment have been collected from the host, and unfed and fully fed specimens of all three stages may be found in the host habitat.  Males are not thought to feed on the host as they are only collected from the host habitat and not from hosts, and have a very weakly armed hypostome.

Ixodes uriae can be distinguished from other Ixodes species that occur in New Zealand by the following features;

• Hosts:  Sea birds
• Males: Tmales of I. uriae can be separated from other species of Ixodes that occur in New Zealand by posterior margin of the body which has 5 lobes which bear tufts of long, strong hairs (really attached to ventral plates), and a small tuft of similar hairs on each side arising from the marginal body fold and anterior to the large external posterior tuft with which it frequently appears continuous.
• Females: The females of I. uriae can be separated from other species of Ixodes in New Zealand by all coxae being unarmed (without spurs); the porose areas being large and oval and the third segment of the palpi being greatly swollen and on the internal surface.
• Nymphs: The nymphs of I. uriae can be separated from other species Ixodes in New Zealand by all coxae being unarmed (without spurs) and the first coxae being contiguous with the basis capituli even when fully replete.

It is possible to confuse I. jacksoni with I. uriae.  Ixodes jacksoni can be sparated from I. uriae by the following caharacteristics: Male - paired apicoventral hooks on the tarsi, absence of distinct ventral plates (only leathery integument), absence of dense setae posterior of the scutum, bluntly rounded palpal apex in dorsal view, Female - basis capituli shorter ventrally, palps less swollen internally, different porose areas  (sub triangular) and fewer, shorter setae on dorsum, Nymphs - coxae 1 is not contiguous with the basis capituli.

Useful references

Arthur DR 1963. British ticks.Butterworth & Co. Ltd, London. 218pp.

Barker SC & Murrell A  2004.  Systematics and evolution of ticks with a list of valid genus and species names.  Parasitology, 129: S15-S36.

Bishop DM. & Heath ACG 1998. Checklist of ectoparasites of birds in New Zealand. Surveillance. Special Issue: Parasites of Birds in New Zealand. 25: 13-31.

Camicas JL, Hervy JP, Adam F & Morel PC 1998.  Les Tiques de Monde.  Nomenclature, stades decrits, hotes, repartition.  The ticks of the world.  Nomenclature, described stages, hosts, distribution (Acarida, Ixodida). France , Orstom Editions.

Dumbleton LJ 1953. The ticks (Ixodoidea) of the New Zealand sub-region. New Zealand Cape Expedition Series Bulletin, 14: 1-28.

Dumbleton LJ 1963. A synopsis of the ticks (Acarina: Ixodoidea) of New Zealand. Tuatara 11: 72-78.

Heath ACG 1987. A review of the origins and zoogeography of tick-borne disease in New Zealand. Tuatara 29: 19-29.

Horack IG, Camicas J-L & Kierans, JE 2002. The Argasidae, Ixodidae and Nuttalliellidae (Acari: Ixodida): a world list of valid tick names.  Experimental and Applied Acarology, 28: 27-54.

Roberts FHS 1970. Australian ticks. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Melbourne. 267pp.