How do ticks attach themselves? - briefly
Ticks employ a pair of chelicerae to cut the skin and a barbed hypostome that penetrates and locks into tissue. They then secrete a cement‑like saliva that solidifies, firmly anchoring the parasite while it feeds.
How do ticks attach themselves? - in detail
Ticks locate a host by climbing vegetation and extending their forelegs, a behavior known as questing. The Haller’s organ on each foreleg detects carbon‑dioxide, heat, and movement, directing the tick toward a passing animal or human.
When the host brushes against the tick, the parasite grasps the skin with its forelegs and rapidly draws forward. The second pair of legs stabilizes the body while the chelicerae and hypostome—the barbed feeding tube—penetrate the epidermis. The hypostome’s backward‑pointing denticles anchor the tick, preventing dislodgement during blood ingestion.
Salivary glands release a complex mixture of anticoagulants, anti‑inflammatory agents, and a proteinaceous adhesive. The adhesive, often called “cement,” hardens around the hypostome, reinforcing the attachment and sealing the feeding site.
The feeding cycle proceeds as follows:
- Insertion: hypostome penetrates skin, chelicerae cut a small wound.
- Cementation: salivary cement solidifies, securing the mouthparts.
- Engorgement: blood flows through the feeding tube; anticoagulants keep it fluid.
- Detachment: after the tick reaches repletion, the cement dissolves, and the parasite drops off.
Each life stage—larva, nymph, adult—employs the same mechanism, differing only in size and the volume of blood required. The combination of sensory detection, mechanical anchorage, and biochemical cement ensures a reliable attachment throughout the feeding period.