How do domestic ticks bite? - briefly
Domestic ticks attach by inserting their hypostome into the host’s skin and injecting saliva that contains anticoagulants and anesthetics. They stay anchored while expanding their mouthparts to maintain a secure feeding site.
How do domestic ticks bite? - in detail
Domestic ticks are obligate blood‑feeding arthropods that locate a host through heat, carbon‑dioxide, and movement cues. Upon contact, the tick climbs onto the skin and searches for a suitable attachment site, typically a thin‑skinned area such as the scalp, armpit, or groin.
The attachment process involves three specialized structures:
- Chelicerae – sharp, scissor‑like appendages that cut through the epidermis.
- Hypostome – a barbed, tube‑shaped organ that penetrates the dermis and anchors the tick.
- Palps – sensory organs that guide the mouthparts to blood vessels.
Sequence of biting:
- Exploratory phase – the tick tests the skin surface with its palps, detecting moisture and temperature gradients.
- Incision – chelicerae slice the epidermis, creating a small puncture.
- Insertion – the hypostome is driven into the dermal tissue; barbs prevent backward movement.
- Feeding – the tick secretes saliva containing anticoagulants, vasodilators, and immunomodulatory proteins, facilitating continuous blood flow.
- Engorgement – the tick expands its body as it ingests blood, often increasing mass severalfold.
- Detachment – after reaching repletion, the tick releases its grip and drops off the host.
Saliva composition is critical for successful feeding. It includes substances such as apyrase, which hydrolyzes ADP to inhibit platelet aggregation, and prostaglandin‑E2, which dilates local blood vessels. These compounds also create a microenvironment that can transmit pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and protozoa.
Feeding duration varies by species and life stage. Larvae and nymphs may remain attached for 2–5 days, while adult females can feed for 7–10 days before detaching to lay eggs.
«Ticks rely on a barbed hypostome to secure attachment», a statement supported by numerous entomological studies, illustrates the mechanical basis of the biting process.