Haemaphysalis punctata and Ixodes ricinus in a coastal habitat in North Wales

The populations of Haemaphysalis punctata and Ixodes ricinus on the Mynydd Mawr National Trust reserve, Gwynedd, were studied for two years. H. punctata was the more numerous species, being recoverable by blanket dragging over most of the year except for some very short days. There were spring and late summer peaks of activity. It seems probable that the complete life cycle of H punctata takes two or three years in this habitat. The activity of I ricinus was short relative to H punctata, but spring and late summer peaks were also recorded. Specimens of H punctata were recorded from sheep grazing the area, and from visiting dogs, but adult ticks fed on splenectomised calves did not, apparently, carry diseases transmissible to cattle.