Seasonal and Habitat Patterns of Dominant Haemaphysalis punctata with Hae. concinna (Acari: Ixodidae) Recorded Beyond Known Range in the Karst Edge, Slovenia

Ticks of the genus Haemaphysalis are important vectors of various pathogens, yet their ecology and distribution remain poorly documented in certain regions. This study investigated the seasonal patterns, habitat preferences, and population densities of the dominant Haemaphysalis punctata, alongside the occurrence of Hae. concinna beyond its previously known range in the Karst Edge, Slovenia. Sampling was conducted at five sites encompassing pastures and forest habitats, targeting both adult and nymph stages. Hae. punctata was the dominant species (96.3% of sample size), with 47 males, 55 females, and 393 nymphs recorded, and it was present at all sites except the forest habitat in Osp. Most Hae. punctata ticks (70.7%) were collected from pastures, and the rest from the forest. Adults were detected throughout most of the year, but none were recorded between mid-June and mid-September. Nymphs occurred throughout much of the sampling period, with high abundances in spring and from early August to mid-October; they were absent in December-January and reappeared in February. Seasonal densities of Hae. punctata per 100 m² ranged from 0.21 at Osp to 10.36 individuals at Zazid (all pastures), up to over 30-fold higher than Hae. concinna at sites when both species occur concurrently. The latter was rare, with 4 males, no females, and 15 nymphs (3.7% of sample), and was recoreded at three sites: pastures in Osp and Hrastovlje, and forests in Zazid and Hrastovlje, over a period from mid-April to early July. Hae. concinna often co-occurred with Hae. punctata adults or nymphs. These findings confirm the dominance of Hae. punctata across studied habitats and document the first evidence of Hae. concinna in new localities along the Karst Edge, representing an extension of its known distribution in Slovenia. The study underscores the influence of habitat type on tick abundance and seasonality and provides critical baseline data for monitoring tick populations and potential vector-borne disease risks in the region.