Keys for the morphological identification of the Australian paralysis ticks (Acari: Ixodidae), with scanning electron micrographs.

The Australian paralysis ticks (Ixodes: Sternalixodes) are of considerable medical and veterinary importance within Australia. This is because of their ability to cause paralysis but also their capacity to transmit pathogens and induce allergic reactions. The available keys for the identification of the group (Ixodes holocyclus Neumann, Ixodes cornuatus Roberts, and Ixodes hirsti Hassall) are ambiguous and contain errors, making accurate identification of the group difficult. Illustrations of varying quality and accuracy of these species have been published in the past; however, they have never been collectively treated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Female Australian paralysis ticks are here examined using SEM, and the first pictorial key for this group is presented along with an accurate text key.