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Haemaphysalis leporispalustris (Packard, 1869)
Rabbit Tick
Family: Ixodidae

Introduction to the Ticks of BC

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Distribution of Haemaphysalis leporispalustris in British Columbia in British Columbia

Introduction


This species is found in every province in Canada, and perhaps is the most widely distributed tick in North America: rabbits are the main host (Lindquist 2016). Several records are mapped by Lindquist et al. 2016). Hosts can include small birds, game birds (even chickens) and small mammals (Gregson 1956. It is an important transmitter of tularaemia (Gregson 1956).

Biological information presented below is taken from Gregson 1956.

Species Information

This is a species of hard tick. Gregson (1956) describes this genus as follows: Inornate ticks without eyes, but with festoons. Anal grooves posterior to anus. Palps short and conical, giving the capitulum a triangular appearance. Coxa I never bifid. Male with no ventral plates.” He indicates that this species is similar in size and general appearance to chordeilis, however the basis capituli of the nymph is rectangular in shape, females, nymphs, and larvae are distinguished by a strongly reflexed posterior edge on palpal article 2, and a ventral cornus is present; males lack an internal spur on Coxa IV.”

Source: Gregson, John D. 1956. The Ixodoideae of Canada. Canada Department of Agriculture, Ottawa


Figures illustrating terms used in the description of ticks [PDF].

Biology

Species Biology

This species is active all year (Kolkars and Oliver 2003). It is primarily found on rabbits (Camin and Drenner 1978), but has been collected from Bobwhite and Carolina Wren (Kollars and Oliver 2003). It is particularly prevalent on Snowshoe Hares, with intensity in adults and juveniles peaking in May and June, and in August (Keith and Cary 1990). Larvae exhibit climbing behaviour to seek hosts (Camin and Drenner 1978).

Habitat


This species is found in low-growinvg vegetation (Camin and Drenner 1978).

Distribution

Global Range

United, States, Canada, United Kingdom, South America
Range in Canada and BC

This species has been collected in BC from White Rock, Salmon Arm, Rayleigh, McLure, Vavenby, Osoyoos, Chexacut, Pavilion, Falkland, Agassiz, and Vancouver.

Status Information

Origin StatusProvincial StatusBC List
(Red Blue List)		COSEWIC
UnlistedUnlistedUnlistedUnlisted



BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer--the authoritative source for conservation information in British Columbia.

Species References

Gregson, John D. 1956. The Ixodoidae of Canada. Canada Department of Agricluture, Ottawa.

Lindquist, Evert E., Terry D. Galloway, Harvey Artsob, L. Robbin Lindsay, Michael Brebot, Heidi Wood and Richard. G. Robbins. 2016. A Handbook to the Ticks of Canada (Ixodida: Ixodidae, Argasidae Biological Survey of Canada, Ottawa

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