Ticks are important vectors of human and animal pathogens, but many questions remain
unanswered regarding their taxonomy. Molecular sequencing methods have allowed
research to start understanding the evolutionary history of even closely related tick species.
Ixodes inopinatus is considered a sister species and highly similar to Ixodes ricinus, an
important vector of many tick-borne pathogens in Europe, but identification between these
species remains ambiguous with disagreement on the geographic extent of I. inopinatus. In …