Redescription of larva, nymph and adults of Ixodes (I .) loricatus Neumann, 1899 (Acari: Ixodidae) based on light and scanning electron microscopy

Ticks of the genus Ixodes are poorly known in the Neotropical zoogeographical region, from where only 45 species have been recorded. In Brazil, the genus is currently represented by eight species, four of which are known only from this country. This paper presents a redescription of all active stages in the life-cycle of I. loricatus , based on optical and scanning electron microscopy. In addition, the relationship of I. loricatus to other Neotropical Ixodes is presented and discussed.