Ixodes pacificus

9.9

A small tick in western North America that can spread Lyme disease

noun
/aɪˈkoʊdiːz pəˈsɪfɪkəs/

Specialized

: Ixodes pacificus

The bite of Ixodes pacificus can transmit the bacterium responsible for Lyme disease.

Examples

Wildlife researchers study the life cycle of Ixodes pacificus to understand Lyme disease risks.
Ixodes pacificus is commonly found in areas with abundant oak and brush in northern California.
The Ixodes pacificus is commonly found in wooded areas.
Have you heard about Ixodes pacificus and its role in Lyme disease?
Ixodes pacificus is a major carrier of Lyme disease in northern California and thrives in wooded habitats.
People living in areas infested by Ixodes pacificus should take precautions to avoid tick bites.
Researchers identified Ixodes pacificus as an important vector for connecting wildlife and Lyme disease transmission.

Synonyms

western black-legged tick

vsIxodes pacificus

Specialized

7.0

A tick in the western United States that bites people and spreads Lyme disease

is the formal scientific name rather than the common everyday name

Surface Forms

Ixodes pacificus singular

Ixodes pacificuses plural

Morphology

Ixodes + pacificus

The binomial combines a genus name ('Ixodes' = a group of ticks) with a Latin species epithet ('pacificus' suggesting an association with the Pacific), so a learner who knows both parts could infer it refers to a tick from the Pacific/western region. However, the full specific sense — its common name, precise geographic range, and role as a Lyme-disease vector — is not directly derivable from the parts, making the meaning only partially predictable.

Etymology

Ixodes pacificus is a name that points to a tick from the Pacific coast. The part Ixodes is the name for a group of 'ticks' and pacificus means 'from the Pacific', so the name identifies the western black-legged tick that often spreads Lyme disease in the western United States.