How do linen ticks bite? - briefly
Linen ticks attach to the host’s skin, pierce the epidermis with their mouthparts, and inject saliva that contains anticoagulants while feeding on blood. The bite is typically painless at first, becoming noticeable only after a mild irritation develops.
How do linen ticks bite? - in detail
Linen ticks attach to a host by locating a suitable feeding site on the skin or fabric that contacts the host’s body. Their mouthparts consist of a pair of chelicerae and a hypostome. The chelicerae cut through the outer layer of skin or fabric fibers, creating a small opening. The hypostome, covered with backward‑facing barbs, is then driven into the tissue, anchoring the tick securely while it inserts its feeding tube.
Saliva is released during insertion. It contains anticoagulants, vasodilators, and anesthetic compounds that prevent blood clotting, widen blood vessels, and reduce the host’s sensation of the bite. These substances enable the tick to feed continuously for several days without detection.
The feeding process proceeds in stages:
- Attachment: Chelicerae cut, hypostome embeds.
- Salivation: Anticoagulant and anesthetic proteins are injected.
- Engorgement: Blood is drawn through the feeding tube into the tick’s expandable body cavity.
- Detachment: After the blood meal is complete, the tick releases its grip and drops off.
Linen ticks are capable of transmitting pathogens during the salivation phase. Their bite is typically painless, leaving only a small, often unnoticed puncture site. The entire cycle from attachment to detachment can last from 3 to 7 days, depending on environmental conditions and host availability.