I am looking for information about soft ticks and bird mites. Do you know any doctors of medicin or clinic/institution in Sweden that are familiar with these species and able to diagnose human beings if necessary?
Argas reflexus is, to my knowledge, not found in Sweden. The only soft tick within our boundaries is Argas verspertilionus. However, A. reflexus is known from Copenhagen, Denmark, just some kilometers from South Sweden, so I would not be surprised if it turned up one of these days. There are not a lot of people who are looking for these kind of strange creatures.
Of the 10 – 13 species of hard ticks regularly found in Sweden, 6 species are bird parasites, 2 species found as well on birds as on mammals and 3 species specialists on mammals.
– Lars Lundqvist
