| Rhiphicephalus microplus | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Ixodida |
| Family: | Ixodidae |
| Genus: | Rhipicephalus |
| Subgenus: | Boophilus |
| Species: | R. microplus |
| Binomial name | |
| Rhipicephalus microplus (Canestrini, 1888) |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Boophilus microplus |
|
Rhipicephalus microplus (formerly Boophilus microplus) is an economically important tick that parasitises a variety of livestock species; it is known as the cattle tick or southern cattle tick.[1] It has been recorded on "cattle, buffalo, horses, donkeys, goats, sheep, deer, pigs, dogs and some wild animals".[1] It is found in Asia, parts of Australia, on Madagascar, in southeastern Africa, in the Caribbean, South and Central America and Mexico. Having formerly been present in the United States, it has since been eradicated there, except for sporadic occurrences in a buffer zone along the Mexican border.[1]