Tick identification- Pre-anal groove

Identification of the Genus Ixodes

The pre-anal groove (see diagram) is a key characteristic of this genus.

This genus includes the ticks that transmit Lyme disease to humans- Ixodes scapularis, the blacklegged tick and Ixodes pacificus, the western blacklegged tick.

The arrows in the figure, to scale, are ~ 2 mm long

	Identification of the Genus Ixodes The pre-anal groove (see diagram) is a key characteristic of this genus. This genus includes the ticks that transmit Lyme disease to humans- Ixodes scapularis, the blacklegged tick and Ixodes pacificus, the western blacklegged tick. The arrows in the figure, to scale, are ~ 2 mm long