IXODID TICKS IN THE MIDDLE VOLGA REGIONS,

In Mari ASSR, among ticks belonging to the family Ixodidae, 3 species have been established 1 Ixodes ricinus Linne 1758, 2 Ixodes persulcatus Schulze 1930, and 3 Haemaphysalis sulcata var. svinigae Filimonov 1947. The tick L. sulcata var svinigae Fil. 1947 is a new variety of the genus Haemaphysalis, found for the first time in Mari ASSR. In accordance with distribution of vegetation cover in Mari ASSR, there is recorded an association of I. ricinus with the broadleaf forest zone and less with the conifer forests, while of I. persulcatus with the conifer forest zone, where aspen, birch, linden, and mountain ash predominate. I. ricinus is distributed in the southern areas of the Mari ASSR. I. persulcatus is widespread in Sotnursky, Morkinsky, Paranginsky, and Orshansky regions. It is also found in single areas in Mari-Turek, Kosolapovsky, Kilemarsky, Volzhsky, and Yurinsky regions. Haemaphysalis ticks were found singly in 2 areas of Zvyenigovsky and in 2 areas of Yelasovsky region. Their habitats are broadleaf forest with moderate humidity.