Reality Check: Is this a female Pacific Coast Tick? Yes - Dermacentor occidentalis

Moved

… Ron Hemberger, 3 June, 2010 - 10:20am

Could be...

It probably is D. occidentalis. It's definately a female Dermacentor. Alternatively, it could possibly be D. variabilis, though the homogeneity of scutum color is unusual.

… Jon Oliver, 3 June, 2010 - 9:17am

Thanks, Jon

Looks like this one is out of range for D. variabilis

… Ron Hemberger, 3 June, 2010 - 10:17am

D. variabilis abundant in Orange Co.

According to the Orange Co. Vector Control District, D. occidentalis and D. variabilis are the two most common species of ticks in Orange Co.

http://www.ocvcd.org/documents/Rocky%20Mountain%20Spotted%20%20Fever.pdf

To really nail down the species, we would need a picture of the spiracular plate located posterior to the hindmost leg.

… Jon Oliver, 3 June, 2010 - 11:34am

I stumbled into some bad info

Found a range map (can't again) that showed no D. variabilis in Calif., so thanks for the correction. Thanks also for the info about the spiracular plate. I always shoot dorsal from the front on ticks, but will also try other angles in the future.

… Ron Hemberger, 4 June, 2010 - 12:06am

D. occidentalis

Now that I've been looking at some keys to Dermacentor, I'm more confident about this being D. occidentalis, rather than D. variabilis, based on the following characteristics:
- 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
- known species range

… Jon Oliver, 8 June, 2010 - 10:10am

Thanks, Jon, for your continuing work on this one.

Excellent info!

… Ron Hemberger, 8 June, 2010 - 10:48am

I totally saved your life...

...by pointing out your unwanted friend before it could make a meal of you. Of course, I was then haunted by delusions that ticks were crawling on me for the rest of the night. :-(

… Harsi S. Parker, 1 June, 2010 - 8:09pm

Assuming you saved my life...

...that means you're responsible for my keep now, right? Better you should have left the tick finish me off! No good deed, etc.

… Ron Hemberger, 1 June, 2010 - 11:01pm

OK, so I guess there was only potential peril from the tick...

...and considering that you were prepared to risk your life and limb to save me if fell down that embankment while attempting to photograph the pretty flower, we're probably just about even.

… Harsi S. Parker, 1 June, 2010 - 11:12pm

We'll call it a wash for now.

But be aware that I'm keeping score.

… Ron Hemberger, 1 June, 2010 - 11:26pm

Just one of the perils of our bug interest

Lions, and ticks, and bears - Oh My!

… Jim Moore, 1 June, 2010 - 7:42pm

When the flying monkeys come...

...I'm heading to Kansas!

… Ron Hemberger, 1 June, 2010 - 7:47pm