Pacific Coast Tick
Dermacentor occidentalis
This record describes Dermacentor occidentalis (species). Recorded family: Ixodidae. Recorded order: Ixodida.
Identification and Appearance
Jon Oliver provided the following characters that can be used to distinguish D. occidentalis from D. variabilis : - Basis capitulum longer than wide - cornua as long as or longer than wide - sizes of scutal punctations not greatly disparate - pearl grey coloration of scutum more extensive than brown Because Dermacentor variabilis , often thought of as an east coast species, also occurs in some areas along the Pacific Coast, please see this CDC page which also gives that species' approximate west coast distribution.
Classification
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
CA-OR / n. Baja, Mex (Furman & Loomis, 1984 - see reference below)
About Ticks: the wider group
Order-level background for Ixodida, the group containing Dermacentor occidentalis. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Ixodida (ticks) includes ~900 described species in two major families: hard ticks (Ixodidae, ~700 species) and soft ticks (Argasidae, ~200 species). Ticks can increase their body weight by 200-600× when engorged with blood.
Ecological role of the group
Ticks are obligate blood-feeding parasites at all life stages after hatching. A single female can lay 3,000-8,000 eggs. Ticks can transmit more different pathogens than any other arthropod group - including bacteria, viruses, and protozoa simultaneously.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Tick-borne diseases are the most common vector-borne illnesses in the U.S. - Lyme disease alone accounts for 82% of all tickborne disease reports (CDC). Annual cases more than doubled from 22,000 to 48,000 between 2004-2016. Tick-related economic losses in U.S. cattle alone exceed $3 billion annually.
Recorded sources for this group: CDC tick surveillance data, USDA veterinary entomology. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Pacific Coast Tick (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Hartmut Wisch; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , Harsi S. Parker
Frequently Asked Questions About Pacific Coast Tick
What is Pacific Coast Tick?
Pacific Coast Tick (Dermacentor occidentalis) is a species in the family Ixodidae, within the order Ixodida.
How do you identify Pacific Coast Tick?
Jon Oliver provided the following characters that can be used to distinguish D. occidentalis from D. variabilis : - Basis capitulum longer than wide - cornua as long as or longer than wide - sizes of scutal punctations not greatly disparate - pearl grey coloration of scutum more extensive than brown Because Dermacentor variabilis , often thought of as an east coast species, also occurs in some areas along the Pacific Coast, please see this CDC page which also gives that species' approximate west coast distribution.
Where is Pacific Coast Tick found?
Range: CA-OR / n. Baja, Mex (Furman & Loomis, 1984 - see reference below)