Dermacentor, Koch, 1844

Petney, Trevor N., Boulanger, Nathalie, Saijuntha, Weerachai, Chitimia-Dobler, Lidia, Pfeffer, Martin, Eamudomkarn, Chatanun, Andrews, Ross H., Ahamad, Mariana, Putthasorn, Noppadon, Muders, Senta V., Petney, David A. & Robbins, Richard G., 2019, Ticks (Argasidae, Ixodidae) and tick-borne diseases of continental Southeast Asia, Zootaxa 4558 (1), pp. 1-89 : 18

Dermacentor

The Southeast Asian Dermacentor were classified into the subgenus Indocentor by Schulze (1933b). Major revisions of this genus were carried out by Hoogstraal and Wassef in the 1980s. More recently, additional substantial studies have been undertaken by D. and M. Apanaskevich, including the first description of the immatures of D. compactus ( Apanaskevich 2016) , the resurrection of D. bellulus ( Apanaskevich and Apanaskevich 2015c) and the description of 5 new species ( Apanaskevich and Apanaskevich 2015a, b, 2016). Identifications prior to these studies should be considered potentially incorrect based on our current knowledge. However, much additional research is needed, especially molecular genetic analyses, formal morphometric analyses and assortative mating experiments, which would be helpful in confirming current species designations and clarifying their taxonomic and systematic status.

Dermacentor was the genus most commonly associated with intra-aural infestation in humans (otoacariasis) (99.7%) in Malaysia ( Mariana et al. 2008b). Although four species of Dermacentor have been found in Malaysia, only three species were involved: D. atrosignatus , D. compactus and D. steini , with the first mentioned being the most frequently extracted. The fourth species, D. auratus , was not found in such infestations.