About Dermacentor similis Lado, Glon & Klompen, 2021
Dermacentor similis is a tick species found in the Western United States, which corresponds to Dermacentor variabilis, the closely related tick species found in the Eastern United States. Researchers used an integrative taxonomy framework to analyze specimens collected from central-eastern and western regions of the United States, combining data from mitochondrial and nuclear molecular markers and morphological study. This work produced strong evidence that what was previously classified as Dermacentor variabilis actually represents two separate species: Dermacentor variabilis in eastern North America, and the new species Dermacentor similis in western North America. Because Dermacentor variabilis is a three-host tick that acts as a transmitter for several pathogens, it is critically important to define the host range and vector competency of Dermacentor similis to determine which pathogens this species may be able to transmit.
