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[[Image:Ixodes ricinus.jpg|thumb|right|150px|''Ixodes ricinus'' - Richard Bartz, Wikimedia Commons]]
[[Image:Ixodes ricinus.jpg|thumb|right|150px|''Ixodes ricinus'' - Richard Bartz, Wikimedia Commons]]
===Ixodes spp.===
''Ixodes spp.'' can be identified by;
*Long palps
*Absent eyes
*Not ornate
*No festoons
*Anterior anal grooves
There are a number of ''Ixodes'' species present in the UK, however the most prevelant are ''I.ricinus'', ''I.canisuga''and ''I.trianguliceps''.
===Ixodes ricinus===
===Ixodes ricinus===
This is a common hard tick found in the UK. As with most hard ticks ''Ixodes ricinus'' is a 3 host tick as well as a 3 stage life cycle. The ticks spend the mojority of their life on the ground, only requiring a blood meal prior to moulting to the next stage. The ''Ixodes ricinus'' life cycle normally takes 3 year but can range from 2 - 7 years in some cases, during this life cycle the tick will normally feed 3 times. After becoming adult the female will mate once whilst on the host before being shed to the ground. The female will lay several thousand eggs in matted vegetation such as rough pasture and hedgerows, following this she will die.
This is a common hard tick found in the UK. As with most hard ticks ''Ixodes ricinus'' is a 3 host tick as well as a 3 stage life cycle. The ticks spend the mojority of their life on the ground, only requiring a blood meal prior to moulting to the next stage. The ''Ixodes ricinus'' life cycle normally takes 3 year but can range from 2 - 7 years in some cases, during this life cycle the tick will normally feed 3 times. After becoming adult the female will mate once whilst on the host before being shed to the ground. The female will lay several thousand eggs in matted vegetation such as rough pasture and hedgerows, following this she will die.