Kingdom Animalia Class Arachnida Superorder Parasitiformes Rank Species | Phylum Arthropoda Subclass Acari Order Ixodida | |
Similar Otobius megnini, Haemaphysalis leporispalustris, Ornithodoros hermsi, Coltivirus, Dermacentor albipictus | ||
Otobius lagophilus, is a soft-bodied tick that is only parasitic in the larval and nymphal stages. The tick's parasitic forms are usually found within the ears of the definitive host particularly rabbits and in rare cases cats.
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Habitat
O. lagophilus ticks are generally associated with semiarid or arid environments such as those found in the southwestern United States. They have been observed in the states of California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Wyoming. But have in isolated cases been seen as far north as Alberta, Canada.
Life Cycle
Otobius lagophilus has a life cycle similar to the Otobius megnini only being parasitic in the nymph stage of life. The most common host is rabbits, with the ticks attaching themselves particularly around the face and ears, although in rare cases cats have also served this role. The adult form of O. lagophilus are non-parasitic, yet are still often found around and in rabbit burrows.