THE OCCURRENCE OF IXODES-ELDARICUS (DZHAPARIDZE, 1950) (ACARINA, IXODIDAE) IN ISRAEL

Ixodes eldaricus is reported from the western foothills of Judea. A to tal of 53 larvae, 26 nymphs and 5 adult ticks were collected in the fi eld by dragging and flagging, mainly on the northern and western slope s. Thirty-two larvae were collected from two species of rodents - Acom ys cahirinus and Mus musculus. A. cahirinus is a new host record for I . eldaricus. The ticks appeared in the field and on the mammals only d uring the winter-spring months (November-April). All three stages were found in the same season and no cases of tick paralysis were recorded in local livestock.