Ticks on migrating birds in southwestern Poland: occurrence of Ixodes ricinus and the first Polish record of Haemaphysalis concinna on birds.

Abstract

During ornithological research conducted at the Milicz Fishponds Nature Reserve (Barycz Valley Landscape Park, southwestern Poland) from May to July 2024, a total of 245 birds were captured. Four ticks were collected: two Ixodes ricinus larvae and two Haemaphysalis concinna nymphs. We present the first confirmed record of H. concinna parasitising a great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) in Poland. Identification of H. concinna was based on both morphological identification keys and molecular analysis of the COI gene. This finding expands current knowledge on the biodiversity of ticks parasitising birds in Poland and highlights the need for further research on the role of migratory birds in the dispersal of ticks across Central Europe.