Morphological features of Ixodes persulcatus and I. ricinus hybrids: nymphs and adults.

Our aim was to reveal morphological features of first-generation Ixodes persulcatus and I. ricinus hybrids (nymphs and adults) obtained under laboratory conditions for further study of natural populations of these species in sympatry foci. In 65 nymphs of three groups I.

Morphological differentiation of Ixodes persulcatus and I. ricinus hybrid larvae in experiment and under natural conditions.

The objective of the study was detection of hybrid larvae in Ixodes persulcatus and Ixodes ricinus cohabitation sites. To this end, the following three tasks were solved: interspecies crossing of ticks, evaluation of typical morphological signs of the hybrid larvae, and analysis of collected specimens from sites of sympatry. Under experimental conditions, hybrid larvae of I.

Distribution of Ixodes ricinus and I. persulcatus ticks in southern Karelia (Russia).

The northern boundary of the sympatric zone of Ixodes persulcatus and I. ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) passes through Karelia. Studies carried out in the 1950s showed that these Ixodes species were mostly found in southern Karelia.