Reproduction in a Metastriata Tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae)

Abstract

The superfamily Ixodoidea includes two major families: the Ixodidae called "hard tick " and Argasidae called "soft tick ". Furthermore, Ixodidae is classified into Prostriata (Ixodidae: Ixodes), and Metastriata (Ixodidae except for Ixodes) based on their reproductive strategies. That is, species in each group have characteristic reproductive organs and systems. Ticks are important as vectors of various pathogens . Haemaphysalis longicornis belonging to the Metastriata is characterized by having both the parthenogenetic and bisexual races, and is widely distributed in Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, the Fiji Islands, Japan, the Korean Peninsula and northeastern areas of both China and Russia. This species is known as a vector of rickettsiae causing Q fever, viruses causing Russian spring - summer encephalitis , and protozoa causing theileriosis and babesiosis. H. longicornis, the most dominant tick in Japanese pastures, is very important in agricultural and veterinary sciences because this species also transmits piroplasmosis caused by Theileria and Babesia parasites among grazing cattle. We present here an overview reproduction in the bisexual race of H. longicornis.