Hedgehog Tick - Ixodes hexagonus
Unfed females 3.5mm-4.0mm, fully engorged females up to 13mm, males 3.5mm-3.8mm. Palps shorter than base of capitulum and not club-shaped. Coxae I: short, distinct internal spur, Coxae II-IV: indistinct external spurs, genital aperture position between coxae III.
Other Ixodidae especially Ixodes ricinus which may also be found on Hedgehogs.
Other Ixodes species may also be found on hedgehogs and detailed examination is required for a positive id.
Found on hedgehogs, but also on foxes, mustelids (including badgers), dogs and cats.
All year round, although it probably has spring and autumn peaks.
It is a 'three host tick' - each stage drops off after feeding and must find another host for the next feed.
Fairly common. It occurs throughout the United Kingdom, more sparsely in the North West, increasing in density to the South East.
Under recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland probably due to identification difficulty.
AJ Cann
Birstall
19 June 2020
AJ Cann
Birstall
19 June 2020
Internal spur on Coxa1 and genital aperture between Coxae3
AJ Cann
Birstall
19 June 2020
Tarsus1 stepped
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Species profile
- Common names
- Hedgehog Tick
- Species group:
- Mites, Ticks & Pseudoscorpions
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
- Order:
- Ixodida
- Family:
- Ixodidae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 3
- First record:
- 19/06/2020 (Cann, Alan)
- Last record:
- 10/04/2022 (Proudlove, Fiona)
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% of records within its species group
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