Ixodes Ricinus also was known as The Castor Bean Tick. This creature is very small and its body looks like a coffee bean. This animal is mostly found in the western and central parts of Europe, however, the Bean Tick only comes out in the Spring and early summer. I will be writing my report on interesting facts about the Castor Bean Tick.

 

The Ixodes Ricinus size of an adult male is 2.4-2.8 millimeters long, a female is 3.0-3.6. The Coloration of the tick is mostly red, brown, and black.  The tick does not adapt well in dry areas or hot summers. They must return to moist climate to not become dehydrated. The tick has no eyes and has a hard shield that covers their abdomen. The tick is small, can’t adapt well in dry areas and survives with no eyes.

 

The tick is mostly found in Europe, North Africa, Iceland, and Russia. There are about five thousand Castor Bean Ticks and the population has changed from ten thousand to five, a major drop. There is no conservation status because the female tick lays thousands of eggs. These ticks keep producing a lot of eggs which will make their population grow.

 

The adult Bean tick feeds off of large mammals such as sheep, dogs, humans, and others for about 6-13 days before dropping off. After a female Bean tick feeds she will lay thousands of eggs and then die. The larvae that hatch usually feed on insectivores, rodents, rabbits, birds or bats. This ticks role in the food web is very small, their bite does not kill but can cause disease or infection on those they bite. There are no known predators that eat this tick.

 

The Castor Bean Tick is a very fascinating animal and is very unique in its own way. Although there is no known importance for this tick, I think that its interesting that it is small and can survive with no eyes or predators to eat them. Their life purpose is to eat blood and produce eggs.                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Author:
Published: 02/2013

 

http://www.cvbd.org/en/tick-borne-diseases/about-ticks/tick-species/castor-bean-tick/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ixodes_ricinu

http://www.cvbd.org/en/tick-borne-diseases/about-ticks/tick-species/castor-bean-tick/