British Tick Species:

Argas (Argas) reflexus

Pigeon tick

Pigeons, swallows, swifts, crows and chickens.

Will attach to humans in close proximity to infested bird colonies

Primarily where pigeons roost, e.g. Kings college Cambridge.

2, 12, 13, 14, 22.

Mostly South East England

Argas (Carios) vespertilionis

Short-legged bat tick

Bats and occasionally birds

Attachment to humans has been recorded

Live along side their hosts in caves, hollow trees and roof cavities.

14, 15.

Widely distributed throughout England and West Scotland

Dermacentor (Dermacentor) reticulatus

Ornate cow tick / Marsh tick

Domestic and wild animals, e.g. dogs horses, cattle, foxes, hares and hedgehogs.

Will attach to humans particularly in close proximity to cattle

Grasslands, pastures and woodlands.

1, 5, 6, 7, 13, 19, 22.

SW England and Wales

Haemaphysalis punctata

Red sheep tick / Coastal red tick

Mainly sheep, cattle, small mammals and birds.

Will attach to humans

Widely differing environments

3, 4, 8, 11, 13, 14, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27.

SE England, West coast of Wales, North Wales

Hyalomma (Hyalommasta) aegyptium

Tortoise tick

Primarily tortoises but also lizards, dogs, horses, and hedgehogs.

Occasionally attach to humans

Primarily arid environments, usually found in burrows.

Not responsible for human or domestic animal pathology

England and Ireland

Ixodes (Exopalpiger) trianguliceps

Vole tick / Shrew tick

Principally small rodents but also foxes and mustelids

Attachment to humans occasionally occurs

The burrows or nests of its hosts but larvae quest for hosts in plant litter

9, 13, 14, 16, 22.

Widely distributed UK wide

Ixodes (Ixodes) canisuga

British dog tick / Fox tick

Primarily foxes and mustelids but also domestic dogs

Known to attach to humans

Tolerates dry conditions, e.g. kennels.

10, 17.

UK wide

Ixodes (Ceratixodes) uriae

Seabird tick

Primarily colonial seabirds, occasionally other birds.

Actively quests for hosts. Will readily bite humans visiting bird colonies.

Found in and around the nests, burrows and cracks in stone.

53 arboviruses, 13.

Coastal regions UK wide

Ixodes (Ixodes) hexagonus

Hedgehog tick

Hedgehogs, foxes, mustelids, dogs, cats, rodents and occasional birds.

Frequently attaches to humans

On the host or in the nest. Present in suburban / urban areas.

9, 13, 22.

The whole of the UK but commonest in South East England

Ixodes (Ixodes) lividus

Sand martin tick

Sand martins, occasionally swallows, house martins.

Non reported

On the host or in the burrow

20

Mostly in England and Ireland

Ixodes (Ixodes) ricinus

Sheep tick / Castor bean tick / Wood tick

Wild and domestic small-large mammals, birds and reptiles.

Frequently attaches to humans

Grassland, moorland, heathland and woodland. Found in suburban / urban areas.

1, 7, 9, 13, 14, 16, 19, 21, 22, 27.

Widely distributed UK wide

Ixodes (Ixodes) ventalloi

Rabbit tick

Primarily rabbits and occasionally cats, hedgehogs, mustelids, rodents and birds.

Occasionally attach to humans

On the host and in burrows

18

South West England (Lundy and Isles of Scilly).

Rhipicephalus sanguineus

Brown dog tick / Kennel tick

Dogs, cats and foxes but also recorded on cattle, rabbits, hares, hedgehogs and squirrels.

Will readily attach to humans

Kennels and other sheltered places

6, 14, 19.

Generally Southern England