Ixodes ricinus Linnaeus, 1756 (Fig. 1) Material examined: Sakar Mts, NE of Balgarska Polyana Vill., edge of mixed forest, roadside vegetation (Fig. 3), 42°02'23.4"N 26°12'34.8"E, 415 m. a.s.l., 12.v.2024, 1 ♀ (BFUS-ACR 000014), net sweeping, D. Gradinarov leg. Notes: In Bulgaria I. ricinus is one of the most widespread tick species, as it prevails in mountainous and semi-mountainous areas with sufficient humidity (Georgieva & Gecheva 2013). This species is dependent on a humid microclimate and is less tolerant of excessive heat and desiccation (Estrada-Peñа et al. 2017). It seems that the arid conditions in the Sakar Mountains are the reason for this single finding in the present study.

Published as part of Kolarova, Nevena, Gradinarov, Denis & Petrova, Yana, 2024, Hard ticks (Acari: Ixodida) in Sakar Mountains, SE Bulgaria, pp. 20-31 in ZooNotes 2024 (S 15) on page 21, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.13257667