Ixodid ticks of small mammals of the main taiga areas of the West Siberian Plain

This article deals with the peculiarities of distribution of ixodid ticks on small mammals in the northern, middle, southern taiga and subtaiga of the West Siberian Plain. Representatives of 7 species of ixodid ticks were found to inhabit the area: Ixodes persulcatus, I. apronophorus, I. trianguliceps, I. pavlovskyi, Dermacentor reticulatus, D. marginatus, D. silvarum. Species diversity decreases from south to north. In the northern taiga and middle taiga subzones, populations of two species were found – I. persulcatus and I. apronophorus. In addition to these two species, the larva of I. trianguliceps was found in the southern taiga. The sub-taiga subzone is characterized by the presence of seven species of ixodid ticks. In general, I. persulcatus was the most abundant within the taiga zone, and its proportion in different subzones ranged from 41 to 85%. In some areas of the middle taiga, its dominance could reach 99% in the structure of ixodid communities. Cases of hyperinvasion by ticks were observed in individual host individuals – their number varied from 52 to 195 individuals. Such significant infestations were most often observed in representatives of the background species of small mammals – northern red-backed vole, common shrew, and occasionally on the common hamster.