The Iranian Hyalomma (Acari: Ixodidae) with a key to the identification of male species

The taxonomic status of ticks in the genus Hyalomma, as prominent vectors of domestic animal and human pathogen agents as well as hematophagous parasites of all terrestrial animals has a problematic history due to variability. The present paper is based on our observations on the Iranian Hyalomma species during 2009 to 2013. In this study, for nine Hyalomma species including H. aegyptium, H. anatolicum, H. asiaticum, H. detritum, H. dromedarii, H. excavatum, H. marginatum, H. rufipes and H. schulzei, morphologic characteristics and some notes on their variability, biology and distribution are presented. In this paper, diagnoses, host information, distribution data, illustrations of adult males and a taxonomic key to the native Hyalomma species of Iran are provided to facilitate their identification.