Introduction. This study represents a preliminary inquiry on tick fauna composition carriedout in Maremma, Central Italy, where very few data are available.Materials and methods. The study area was selected in the limestone hills surroundingTarquinia town, on the base of suitable elements directly affecting the tick occurrenceand the possible circulation of tick-borne pathogens, such as wild cattle rearing, kind ofvegetation and human activities. Since a proper understanding of tick ecology is criticalin predicting the risk of tick-borne pathogen transmission in a given area, a series of surveyswas planned in such area in 2011.Results. One hundred fifty-four ticks belonging to 4 genera and 6 species, namely Ixodesricinus (n. = 109; 70%), Rhipicephalus bursa (n. = 18; 12%), Rhipicephalus turanicus (n. =14; 9%), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (n. = 6; 4%), Hyalomma marginatum (n. = 4; 3%) andDermacentor marginatus (n. = 3; 2%) were identified and reported for the area.Discussion. The results of this acarological research represent a significant contributionto the knowledge of the tick fauna of rural areas in Northern Lazio Region, as first steptoward a future molecular investigation on pathogen circulation.
