Ticks fall into two main groups, hard ticks and soft ticks.
Hard ticks
Figure 1. Morphological features of hard ticks (family Ixodidae). Example is an adult male and an engorged adult female cattle tick (Rhipicephalus australis) photographed from above (dorsal) and below (ventral). Photographs courtesy of Constantin Constantinoiu.
Hard ticks (family: Ixodidae) have a shield (scutum in females, conscutum in males) that covers the whole back of male ticks and only the front part of female ticks’ bodies. Their bodies are flat and their mouthparts are elongated with rows of backward pointing teeth. This group includes all of the economically important ticks of cattle including cattle tick, bush tick, and paralysis tick.
Soft ticks
Figure 2. Morphological features of soft ticks (family Argasidae). Example is a female poultry tick (Argus persicus). Photograph courtesy of Daktaridudu [CC BY-SA] Wikimedia Commons.
Tick identification
Ticks of veterinary importance can generally be identified based on morphological features of the tick along with knowledge of host specificity. This tick ID information can be used as a guide, but whenpositive identification is required ticks should be submitted to your local authority.
Ticks for identification in:
Queensland call 13 25 23 and state where you are from and ask to be directed to the local Biosecurity Officer (BO). Alternatively, you can use the following link to find a local DAF office.
Northern Territory contact your Regional Livestock Biosecurity Officer (RLBO).
Darwin Telephone: (08) 8999 2030
Katherine Telephone: (08) 8973 9754
Tennant Creek Telephone: (08) 8962 4458
Alice Springs Telephone: (08) 8951 8125
NSW should be taken without delay to the nearest Cattle Tick Control program office or any other NSW DPI office, or your Local Land Services.
If possible, extract ticks with undamaged mouthparts as these may be important for identification. Taking the tick carefully between thumb and forefinger, as close to the skin as possible, and pulling gently, perhaps with a slight twisting motion, is usually sufficient for getting the tick off the host. Ticks can be preserved in 70% alcohol or sent in in escape-proof containers.
Severely dehydrated nymphs and adult ticks can be softened and restored for examination by placing them in a small quantity of dilute detergent for several hours. This will also assist with the removal of host tissue from the mouthparts, making identification easier.
Simple guide to identify significant ticks of cattle
Tick descriptions are based on adult ticks. Engorging adult females are the largest life stage and the easiest to find and identify (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Guide to identifying engorged adult female ticks. The addional features are diagnostic but harder to see when ticks are engorged. By Madison Mayfield. Photograph credits cattle tick: NSW Department of Primary Industries, paraylsis tick: Ala Tabor, bush tick: Common source Wikipedia, brown dog tick: PestNet.
Figure 2. Body parts of male and female hard ticks. Example is unfed adult male and female dog ticks (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) photographed from above (dorsal) and below (ventral). Photographs courtesy of Constantin Constantinoiu
Features to assist in identification (see Figure 2).
Length and shape of mouthparts, which includes the palps, which are either side of the hypostome. The hypostome is the central mouthpart that pierces the animal for feeding.
Gender. The hard scutum covers the entire back of the male, but only a small part at the front in the female (allowing the rest of her body to expand when she takes a blood meal).
Eyes (can look like small hard blisters) or eyeless.
Colour of legs.
Body colour.
Festoons (short grooves around the margin at the posterior end of the tick) or no festoons. Festoons may be difficult to see when a female tick is fully engorged.
Anal groove.
Cattle tick
(Rhipicephalus australis)
Previously known as Boophilus microplus, and then as Rhipicephalus microplus.
Tick worry, which can significantly reduce cattle live-weight gain and milk production.
Anaemia (blood loss).
Economic loss due to control methods.
Cost of biosecurity measures to prevent spread of the tick and possible disease into tick free zones.
Life cycle type
1 host tick. Ticks moult from larvae to nymph and nymph to adult on the one host.
Host
Cattle are the preferred host of cattle tick, however, heavy infestations may also occur on deer, bison and buffalo. These are considered high risk cattle tick carriers. Horses, camels, goats, sheep, llamas, vicuña, guanacos and alpacas can also carry cattle tick, but they are considered low-risk carriers. Occasionally, they can also be found on marsupials, cats, feral pigs and dogs.
Average time spent on host
Larval, nymph and adult ticks remain on a single host for 18 to 35 days (3 weeks on average).
Life stages
Engorged adult females drop off the host and lay up to 3,000 eggs (2,500 on average) in the environment over 5 to 30 days (longer in winter), then die.
Eggs hatch into larvae from 15 to 55 days.
Larvae survive off the host in the environment from 8 weeks to 9 months, depending on temperature and humidity.
The full life cycle can be completed in 3 to 12 months, depending on conditions.
Location on animal
Larval ticks can attach anywhere, but the host’s self-grooming behaviour causes the largest numbers to be found on the flank, inside the hind legs, around the udder, neck and brisket.
Figure 1. Engorged adult female cattle tick (upper left) and adult male cattle tick (lower right). Image courtesy of Ralph Stutchbury.
Figure 2. Underside of cattle tick female laying eggs. Image courtesy of Diana Leemon.
Figure 4. Geographic distribution of the cattle tick (Rhipicephalus australis) in Australia. Map created from State and Territory Government distribution maps 2019.
Australian distribution
Cattle tick are endemic (regularly found) in higher rainfall areas and occur in a broad band following the general outline of the northern Australian coast from north eastern Western Australia to the eastern border between Queensland and New South Wales (Figure 4).
Figure 5. Adult female cattle ticks at various stages of engorgement. Image courtesy of the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Diagnosis
The best way to diagnose tick infestations before productivity losses occur is to regularly conduct tick screening. Adult stages are the easiest to find and identify. Ticks are seldom seen unless in large numbers, or until females are near engorgement (4.5-8 mm), 1-2 days before they drop (Figure 5). Unfortunately signs of infestation can occur after significant blood loss (and therefore production loss) has already occurred. These signs can also occur with other parasites and diseases.
Treatment
There are a number of acaricide products and a variety of application methods (dip, drench, pour-on and injectable) that can be used against cattle tick. Your choice will depend on:
the current size of the burden of cattle tick.
what other ticks species are present, and in what proportion.
which acaricides are effective on your property and the length of protection you are seeking.
the likely tick-risk over the next few months.
the likely abundance of cattle seed-ticks on your pastures.
the class of cattle affected and their susceptibility to cattle tick.
the last acaricide group/s you used on this (and other) mobs.
the time until these cattle are sold/slaughtered and the withholding period and export slaughter interval of products you might use.
Your decision can be assisted by using the Treatment page a simple tool that considers some of the points above.
The impact of cattle tick can be reduced by cattle breed selection. Bos indicus cattle (tropical breeds) and their crosses develop better resistance to tick infestations than do Bos taurus cattle (British and European breeds). Within a breed it is also possible to select cattle for increased cattle tick-resistance.
A single engorged adult female paralysistick can produce sufficient toxin to paralyse a young calf. See tick paralysis.
Nearly 70 species of ticks worldwide are capable of causing paralysis. In Australia, the most common paralysis tick is Ixodes holocyclus, or the eastern Australian paralysis tick, and it is the cause of tick paralysis in thousands of domestic animals each year, including cattle.
Another close relative, Ixodes cornuatus, commonly known as the southern or Tasmanian paralysis tick also has documented cases of paralysis in some companion animals. It is likely that other Ixodes-type ticks may also be involved in causing paralysis but data and research in this area are lacking.
Life cycle type
3 host tick. Larvae, nymphs and adults attach and feed on different hosts.
Host
Bandicoots are the preferred host of paralysis tick. They also infest numerous other native hosts including bettongs, koalas, flying foxes, echidnas and birds as well as domestic animals including cattle, and humans.
Average time spent on host
Only adult female ticks produce sufficient toxin to affect cattle. After mating the adult female starts feeding and may engorge for a period of 6 to 21 days (average around 10 days). Signs of paralysis take a minimum of 4 days to appear and may take as long as 3 weeks.
Male paralysis ticks have short mouth parts and don’t feed from the host although they may feed from the female tick. They are usually found in close proximity to the female.
Life stages
Engorged females drop off the host and lay 2000 to 5,000 eggs (many won’t survive) in leaf litter under trees and shrubs then they die.
Eggs take 60 to 100 days to hatch into larvae depending on temperature and humidity.
The larvae mature in 1 to 4 weeks then quest for a host from the tips of leaves. Once attached to a host they feed for up to 6 days then drop to the ground.
The engorged larva takes 3 to 6 weeks to moult into a nymph.
5 to 6 days after moulting, the nymphs attach to another host, feed for about a week then drop to the ground.
The engorged nymph takes 3 to 10 weeks to moult into an adult.
Adults usually attach to a new host about a week later and feed for 6 to 21 days.
The full life cycle can be completed in as short as 4 months or as long as 18 months depending on temperature and humidity (usually takes about a year).
Location on animal
Paralysis ticks can attach anywhere but they are generally found around the head and neck area.
Figure 1. Paralysis ticks feeding on a cow. Image courtesy of Lex Turner.
Figure 2. Geographic distribution of paralysis ticks in Australia. Image courtesy of Virbac
Seasonality
Larvae rise in autumn.
Nymphs peak autumn to spring.
Adult numbers peak August to December and up to February (late spring and summer).
Warm humid conditions are required for tick survival. Temperatures around 27°C with high humidity are ideal. High temperatures (high thirties and over) and low temperatures (single digit figures) for several days can be fatal to all stages of the tick.
Adult female paralysis ticks are relatively easy to distinguish from non-paralysis inducing species of ticks based on the following features. See also the tick identification guide.
They have different coloured legs with the front and back pairs being darker than the middle 2 pairs.
Their legs are close to their mouth parts and form a V shape line from the snout.
Their large, prominent mouth parts leave a crater at the site of attachment.
They have a pear shaped body that is yellow-grey to light grey in colour with black bands on the side (Figure 3).
Follow these links to read more about paralysis tick treatment and management.
Bush tick
(Haemaphysalis longicornis)
Importance and impact of bush tick on cattle
Economic loss due to theileriosis in disease endemic areas.
Most infestations are relatively light and/or short-lived, however, the introduction of tick-naïve cattle into tick endemic areas can lead to heavy infestations with serious effects.
Tick worry, which can significantly reduce cattle live-weight gain and milk production.
Anaemia (blood loss).
Life cycle type
3 host tick. Larvae, nymphs and adults attach and feed on different hosts.
Host
Cattle are the preferred host of bush tick, although large infestations have been found on deer. Bush tick often infests other livestock (including sheep and pigs), as well as other warm-blooded animals such as dogs, horses and even humans. It also occurs on numerous wildlife species, and the immature stages have been found on birds.
Average time spent on host
Larvae, nymphs and adults each attach and feed on a host for roughly one week then drop to the ground to moult or lay eggs.
Life stages
Engorged adult females fall from the host and lay around 3,000 eggs then die.
Eggs take 60–90 days to hatch into larvae, depending on temperature and humidity.
The larvae mature in 1 to 4 weeks then climb vegetation to quest for a host. Once attached to a host they feed for up to 6 days then drop to the ground.
The engorged larva takes 3 to 6 weeks to moult into a nymph.
5 to 6 days after moulting, the nymphs attach to another host, feed for about a week, then drop to the ground.
The engorged nymph takes 3 to 10 weeks to moult into an adult.
Adults usually attach to a new host about 1 week later and feed for 6 to 21 days.
Male bush ticks are seldom found and females can produce fertile eggs without the need for males.
The full life cycle can be completed in as short as 4 months or as long as 18 months, depending on climate. In temperate climates with cold winters, usually only 1 generation occurs per year. In warm, humid climates, bush ticks can complete 2 to 3 generations per year.
Location on animal
Bush ticks can attach anywhere, but they are generally found on less-exposed parts of the body that are more difficult to groom: ventral (underside) areas, such as the brisket, udder and inguinal region (groin), between the legs and around the tail, and very commonly in the ears.
The immature stages (larvae and nymphs) are not easily seen and even adult ticks are easily missed when infestations are light, especially if they are not engorged. However, with heavy infestations the ticks occur all over the body.
Figure 1. Engorged bush tick Haemaphysalis longicornis. Image courtesy of Wikimedia CC.
Figure 2. Geographic distribution of the bush tick in Australia. Image adapted from Virbac.
Australian distribution
The bush tick is found mostly in sub-tropical regions and some temperate areas with summer rainfall. In Australia, the main endemic zone is a relatively narrow coastal strip from southern Queensland (up to Gympie in the north) to the north coast of New South Wales, though the ticks may occur up to 100 km inland. It also occurs, though far more sporadically, as far south as Gippsland in Victoria, and inland as far as Albury-Wodonga. In Western Australia, a small area of infestation has established in the Walpole-Denmark district on the far south coast following an apparent introduction in the mid-1980s. Except in Queensland, where the far more important cattle tick occurs, ticks found on cattle in large numbers are usually bush ticks.
Seasonality
Larvae rise in autumn.
Nymph numbers peak autumn to spring.
Adults are typically seen in largest numbers in spring and early summer. Seasonality is more pronounced in temperate climates with only a brief period of a few weeks for adult tick development in summer. This can appear as an ‘explosion’ of large tick populations on a particular property when susceptible animals encounter ideal conditions for tick development, followed by a rapid drop to insignificant numbers when hot and dry conditions return, or the pasture cover is reduced.
Diagnosis
The best way to diagnose tick infestations before productivity losses occur is to regularly conduct tick screening. Adult stages are the only stage likely to cause disease and they are the easiest to identify due to their size (adult females are 3–10 mm).
Bush ticks can be distinguished from cattle tick and paralysis tick based on leg colour (bush tick legs are all a dark red-brown) and the position of the first pair of legs (in bush ticks the first pair of legs are located close to the ticks mouthparts). See the page on tick identification for more detail.
Figure 1. The scrub tick, Ixodes australiensis. Image courtesy of John Cooke CC BY-NC.
Scrub tick
(Ixodes australiensis) The scrub tick (Ixodes australiensis) is regularly found on cattle in Western Australia and it is also known from eastern Victoria. Scrub tick has a 3-host life cycle. The preferred host for the scrub tick is Australian wildlife including the Western Grey Kangaroo, Bettong, Quokka and Potoroo. Scrub tick can readily tolerate hot environmental conditions. Nymph numbers rise in spring and adult numbers peak over spring and summer. Scrub tick has not been seen in large numbers on cattle, they prefer the native species listed above. Small numbers of scrub ticks found on cattle will be incidental and do not require treatment in their own right.
Figure 2. Geographic distribution of paralysis ticks in Australia. Image courtesy of Virbac.
Southern paralysis tick
(Ixodes cornuatus)
Little is known of the 3-host life cycle, or seasonality of the southern paralysis tick, however, it is likely to be similar to that of its close relative the northern paralysis tick. Despite the fact it is the most common tick that affects livestock in Tasmania, virtually nothing is known about the preferred habitat or biology of this tick. Tick paralysis in dogs, cats, and sheep may be caused by the southern paralysis tick but its toxin has not been investigated in detail.
Figure 3. Underside of female brown dog tick laying eggs. Image courtesy of Constantin Constantinoiu.
Brown dog tick
(Rhipicephalus sanguineus)
The brown dog tick is found primarily on domestic dogs, but this tick is occasionally found on cattle too. It is a 3-host tick. The life cycle can be completed in 10 weeks under ideal conditions with more than one life cycle per year possible. Although this tick can survive in open environments, it is highly adapted to living in dog kennels and in the homes of humans. The brown dog tick is a parasite of dogs in the tropics and sub-tropics although it is occasionally found as far as south as Sydney and Melbourne. If found on cattle, brown dog ticks will be in small numbers and incidental. Cattle will not require treatment.
The tick identification page describes how to distinguish brown dog tick from bush, paralysis and cattle ticks.
Wallaby tick
(Haemaphysalis bancrofti)
The wallaby tick is a small 3-host tick that is found primarily on wallabies and kangaroos but can also be found on cattle. Little is known about the distribution of the wallaby tick. Most records are from the east coast and Victoria. Larvae, nymphs and adults are present all year round suggesting more than one life cycle per year is possible. The wallaby tick can be a vector of the Theileria parasite.
Figure 4. The wallaby tick, Haemaphysalis-bancrofti-seen from above (left) and below (right). Image courtesy of L. Knott, School Vet Science, The University of Queensland
Bandicoot tick
(Haemaphysalis humerosa)
The bandicoot tick is a 3-host tick of bandicoots that can also be found on cattle. The bandicoot tick is found in Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland and New South Wales. The bandicoot tick can be a vector of the Theileria parasite.
Figure 5. The bandicoot tick, Haemaphysalis-humerosa seen from above (left) and below (right). Image courtesy of L. Knott, School Vet Science, The University of Queensland
Subscribe to the Boss Bulletin
Subscribe the the Boss Bulletin for monthly updates and articles about all things parasite management
Your feedback is important to us. Let us know how we could improve
Do you want tailored parasite management advice from experts delivered straight to your inbox?
Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter
Notice: you are leaving the ParaBoss main website
www.wecqa.com.au is a secondary ParaBoss website hosted by the University of New England (UNE). Whilst this is still an official ParaBoss website, UNE is solely responsible for the website’s branding, content, offerings, and level of security. Please refer to the website’s posted Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Tools