Ixodes ricinus (Linnaeus, 1758): Respiratory System

Abstract

Adult Ixodes ricinus have a tracheal respiratory systemthat opens through two large spiracular plates on the lateroventral side of the idiosoma. The large, non‐respirtory, convective trunks of the tracheae emerge as cuticle‐lined tubes from the atrial chamber under the spiracular plate and extend to the anterior, medial, and posterior regions of the body where they branch into increasingly finer tracheae. Some tracheae anastomose with contralateral branches. The finest branches of the tracheal system are respiratory tracheoles and enter the respiring tissues. Due to the enormous volume changes caused by feeding adult females, the convective tracheae need to adjust to the changes in body size and shape. The respiratory system of males is rudimentary, they probably respire through diffusive gas exchange through the cuticle.