First Molecular Evidence of Ixodiphagus hookeri (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) in Ixodes ricinus and Haemaphysalis concinna (Acari: Ixodida) Ticks from Inland and Coastal Areas of the Balkan Peninsula
Journal: Pathogens
Year: 2025

<i>Ixodiphagus hookeri</i> (Howard, 1907) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), a hyperparasitic wasp that parasitizes hard ticks, has been documented in various parts of Europe; however, data on its presence in southeastern regions has been lacking. This study provides the first molecular evidence of <i>I. hookeri</i> in ticks from the coastal areas of the Balkan Peninsula, specifically Croatia and Bulgaria. A total of 1043 questing ticks were collected between 2011 and 2013 across 15 locations. Molecular