#amblyomma

A hard tick (Amblyomma dissimile) feeding on a boa constrictor (Boa constrictor)

Ticks - illustrated by Wilhelm Donitz

1. Cosmiomma hippopotamense (female) 2. (male)

3. Amblyomma marmoreum (male)

4. Amblyomma variegatum (male) 5. (female)

6. Amblyomma hebraeum (male) 7. (female)

Lone Star Tick, Amblyomma americanum (by me)

A hard tick (Amblyomma sp.) found in Uraguay

Most likely A. t. trigattatum, since that seems to be the most common of the four subspecies, at least in Western Australia.  Amblyomma is a genus of hard tick, found worldwide, and includes a number of known disease vectors. This one, for example is a known vector of Rickettsia, and suspected of involvement in Q Fever.

This particular individual scrambled across the sand towards my boots, while I was working on a building. Not entirely surprising - there are dozens of kangaroos that hang around the same subdivision, eating the lawns. They’ve been found on rats and rabbits too.