Ixodidae

A family of ticks (order Acarina, suborder Ixodidea), the so-called “hard” ticks, characterized by rigid body form, presence of a dorsal shield, and an anteriorly projecting capitulum. It includes the genera Ixodes, Hyalomma, Amblyomma, Boophilus, Margaropus, Dermacentor, Haemaphysalis, and Rhipicephalus, species of which transmit many important human and animal diseases and cause tick paralysis; they occasionally attack humans, a few habitually so. [G. ixodes, sticky]

* * *

Ix·od·i·dae ik-'säd-ə-.dē n pl a family of ticks (as the deer tick, American dog tick, and lone star tick) that have a hard outer shell and feed on two or three hosts during the life cycle

* * *

n.

a family of tick.

* * *

Ix·od·i·dae (ik-sodґĭ-de) the hard ticks, a family of the superfamily Ixodoidea, distinguished from the soft ticks (Argasidae) by the presence of a scutum. Genera of medical or veterinary interest include Amblyomma, Anocentor, Aponomma, Boophilus, Dermacentor, Haemaphysalis, Hyalomma, Ixodes, and Rhipicephalus.