Dermacentor reticulatus, also known as the ornate cow tick, ornate dog tick, meadow tick, and marsh tick, is a species of tick from the family Ixodidae. It is the type species for the genus Dermacentor. Dermacentor reticulatus is an ornate tick. The female varies in size from 3.8âÂÂ4.2 mm (unfed) to 10 mm when engorged after feeding. The unfed male is 4.2âÂÂ4.8 mm long. D. reticulatus is found in Europe and Western Asia, generally in wooded areas.
Dermacentor reticulatus has a three-host development cycle. The adult female remains on a host for 9âÂÂ15 days, and can lay 3000âÂÂ4500 eggs, although the total number of eggs depends on the size of the female. The larva hatches from the egg in 14âÂÂ21 days.
Dermacentor reticulatus is a vector of various disease organisms, including Babesia canis, Francisella tularensis, Coxiella burnetti, Theileria equi, and several Rickettsia species, such as Rickettsia slovaca.