Ixodes vespertilionis Koch and first report of Ixodes simplex Neumann (Acari: Ixodidae) from bats in the Republic of Korea.

Ticks were collected from bats captured in caves, abandoned mines, and under bridges in the Republic of Korea as part of the 65(th) Medical Brigade vector-borne disease surveillance program in collaboration with the National Institute of Biological Resources. A total of seven ticks (1 nymph and 3 larvae of Ixodes simplex, and 3 females of Ixodes vespertilionis) were removed from 7/141 bats (5.0%). Ixodes simplex was collected from both Rhinolophus ferrumequinum (Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae) and Miniopterus schreibersii (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae), while I. vespertilionis was collected only from R. ferrumequinum. This is the first report of I. simplex from the Republic of Korea.