Ecological-Faunistic Complex of Ixodid Tick Species (Parasitiformes, Ixodidae) on Putyatin Island (Primorskii Territory)

Abstract

Ixodid tick communities in Primorskii Territory are characterized by significant species diversity. The species richness of Ixodidae is higher on the Primorye islands than on the mainland. Bi- and polydominant pasture ixodid communities occur only on islands. Of the eight islands surveyed in 1982–1983, only Putyatin Island had a monodominant tick community with predominance of Haemaphysalis concinna Koch, 1844. This paper is focused on the current structure of adult ixodid hemipopulations on Putyatin Island. Ticks were collected from vegetation by flagging on May 17–21, 2021 at different sites of the island. The following species were recorded (in descending order of abundance): Dermacentor silvarum Olenev, 1932, Haemaphysalis concinna Koch, 1844, Ixodes persulcatus Schulze, 1930, H. japonica douglasi Nuttall et Warburton, 1915, and I. pavlovskyi pavlovskyi Pomerantzev, 1946. In total, 354 ixodid ticks were collected, and their low abundance was observed. According to the data of 2021, H. longicornis Neumann, 1901 was no longer found on Putyatin Island, I. pavlovskyi was recorded for the first time, the abundance of D. silvarum increased significantly, and that of I. persulcatus increased to a lesser extent. The possible causes of changes in the structure of ixodid tick communities are discussed. Putyatin Island currently has a bidominant complex of ixodid ticks, with 45.8% of D. silvarum and 33.3% of H. concinna.