Babesia divergens is an intraerythrocytic parasite, transmitted by the tick "Ixodes ricinus". In Europe ticks of the "Ixodes ricinus" type may spread the bacteria more quickly. The main tick vector is the sheep tick "Ixodes ricinus". In Transcaucasia, the majority of wildcats are infested by the tick "Ixodes ricinus". A species of tick, "Ixodes ricinus", is the host of "B. lusitaniae". Ixodes ricinus, the castor bean tick, is a chiefly European species of hard-bodied tick. Ticks include "Dermacentor pictus", "Ixodes ricinus", "I. persulcatus", "I. crenulatus", and "Acarus siro".