Figure 1

Distribution of Ixodes ricinus and Rhipicephalus sanguineus in Europe. The reported distribution of I. ricinus was officially recorded by the European Center for Disease Control (ECDC) in January, 2014 (red areas). The map includes only records with reliable, accurate data that can be ascribed to one of the NUTS (statistical regions of Europe). Many reports in the literature only mention the presence of one species in a country. Some of the areas in the Mediterranean region might be based on identified collections that do not have permanent populations (i.e., casual introduction without further survival) or based on small areas of suitability. The line shows the northern range of the distribution of ticks that belong to the R. sanguineus complex. Due to the confusion surrounding the morphology and systematics of this complex group, many records cannot be confidently tracked as “true” R. sanguineus. This northern limit is also an educated guess for the current distribution, because persistent populations may live in northern latitudes, protected in shelters, burrows, or private gardens, where adequate conditions for survival may exist.