Ixodes cookei Packard

Reeves, Will K., Durden, Lance A., Ritzi, Christopher M., Beckham, Katy R., Super, Paul E & Oconnor, Barry M., 2007, Ectoparasites and other ectosymbiotic arthropods of vertebrates in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA, Zootaxa 1392, pp. 31-68 : 50

Ixodes cookei Packard

Ex Canis lupus (domestic dog): 2F, NC, Haywood Co., Purchase Knob, W. K. Reeves, 31 Jul. 2003, L­3089.

Ex Canis rufus (red wolf—introduced): 2N, TN, Sevier Co., Sugarland Mountain, 25 Jul. 1997, R. D. Keller, RML 122539;

Ex Marmota monax (woodchuck): 1L, NC, Swain Co., Smokemont, 22 Aug. 2002, W. K. Reeves, L­ 2988.

Ex Procyon lotor (raccoon): 3F, TN, Blount Co., Cades Cove, 1979, V. Major & A. Rabinowitz, RML64584; TN, Blount Co., Cades Cove, 1979­1980 (Rabinowitz et al. 1983); 1N, GSMNP, 28 Sep. 1986, R. Thompson, RML119896; 2F, 8N, 1L, GSMNP, 26 Feb. 1987, R. Thompson, RML119898; 3N, GSMNP, 4 Sep. 1988, R. Thompson, RML119894; 1N, 1L, GSMNP, 4 Sep. 1988, R. Thompson, RML119895; 3N, GSMNP, date not given, R. Thompson, RML119899.

This tick mainly parasitizes carnivores such as raccoons, foxes, and mustelids across North America (Bishopp & Trembley 1945, Durden & Keirans 1996). Ixodes cookei is a vector of Powassan encephalitis virus in the northeastern US (Main et al. 1979), but the vector potential of this tick and status of the virus in the GSMNP has not been studied.