Ixodes gibbosus Nuttall, 1916 (Figs. 76–78)

Ixodes gibbosus is a relatively common but poorly known species, so far reported from parts of the Mediterranean Basin. It is a species close to Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes persulcatus, but is distributed in areas considered too warm and dry to support permanent populations of I. ricinus which it replaces in several Mediterranean countries. Nevertheless, it has been collected sympatrically with I. ricinus in some areas of Greece (Anna Papa, personal communication).