How do steppe ticks look? - briefly
Steppe ticks are small, oval arachnids measuring roughly 2–5 mm, featuring a reddish‑brown dorsal shield and a lighter, creamy ventral side. Their short legs and fine body hairs give them a slightly fuzzy appearance.
How do steppe ticks look? - in detail
Steppe ticks are small arachnids, typically ranging from 2 mm to 5 mm in length when unfed. Their bodies consist of two main sections: the anterior capitulum, which houses the mouthparts, and the posterior idiosoma, covered by a hardened dorsal shield (scutum) in males and a softer, expandable cuticle in females.
The dorsal surface of unfed individuals displays a uniform brown to reddish‑brown coloration, providing camouflage against the dry grasses of the steppe. After engorgement, females swell dramatically, turning a pale, translucent gray as their abdomen fills with blood. Males retain a flatter profile and maintain the darker hue.
Key morphological features include:
- Scutum: Oval, smooth, and darkly pigmented in males; absent or reduced in females.
- Legs: Eight legs, each bearing fine sensory hairs (setae). Legs are relatively long, facilitating movement through sparse vegetation.
- Mouthparts: Prominent chelicerae and a ventral hypostome equipped with backward‑pointing teeth for secure attachment to hosts.
- Eyes: Two lateral eyes positioned on the anterior margin of the scutum; absent in nymphal stages.
- Body segmentation: Clear demarcation between the capitulum and idiosoma; the latter expands considerably during feeding.
Developmental stages (egg, larva, nymph, adult) exhibit progressive size increase and coloration changes. Larvae are smaller (≈ 1 mm), lighter brown, and lack a scutum. Nymphs resemble miniature adults but retain a softer dorsal surface and lighter tone.
Overall, steppe ticks present a compact, oval silhouette, dark dorsal shield in males, and a markedly distended, pale abdomen in engorged females, with long, hair‑covered legs adapted for navigating open grassland environments.