First record of Alectorobius coniceps (Ixodoidea: Argasidae) and Dermacentor sp. (Ixodoidea: Ixodidae) in Pakistan

species are soft ticks primarily infesting birds, such as swallows, while species are hard ticks mainly infesting mammals, such as small ruminants. This study for the first time reported on the morphological and molecular bases of two tick species, namely and a sp. in Pakistan. The former species was examined in swallows' nests in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, while the latter species was examined in small ruminants in Balochistan province. In total, 25 ticks were collected, with 14 ticks morphologically identified as (males = 9 and females = 5) and 11 ticks identified as sp. (males = 7 and females = 4). Following morphological identification, molecular identification was gained by obtaining 16S rDNA and sequences for these ticks. The BLAST results for the 16S rDNA and sequences from shared a maximum identity of 97.46% and 96.49% with the same species from Malta. The BLAST analysis of the 16S rDNA and sequences from sp. showed maximum identities of 98.42% and 97.45% with from China. The phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rDNA and of showed a close evolutionary relationship with the same species. The case of sp., based on 16S DNA and , indicated a close evolutionary relationship with from China.