Characteristic features of biodiversity in European ixodid ticks (Acari, Ixodidae) as vectors of diseses with natural foci

The diapason of some biodiversity characteristics of ixodid ticks of the fauna of Europe and adjacent territories is analyzed. These characteristics include taxonomic and morphological diversity, the diversity of life cycles, host-parasite relations, species ranges, and biotopic associations. The significance of different aspects of biodiversity of ixodid ticks as a prerequisite of interrelations with pathogens with natural foci is estimated.