How does a tick bite? - briefly
A tick penetrates the skin with its chelicerae and a barbed hypostome, then releases saliva containing anticoagulants to facilitate blood intake. Feeding may continue for hours to days while the tick’s body enlarges with the ingested blood.
How does a tick bite? - in detail
Ticks attach by inserting their hypostome, a barbed feeding tube, into the host’s skin. The barbs anchor the mouthpart, preventing easy removal. Simultaneously, the tick secretes a cement-like protein that hardens around the hypostome, forming a stable attachment site.
Saliva released during feeding contains anticoagulants, anti‑inflammatory agents, and immunomodulators. These compounds keep blood flowing, suppress the host’s immediate immune response, and facilitate prolonged feeding. The saliva also serves as a vehicle for pathogens, allowing microorganisms to enter the bloodstream.
The feeding process proceeds in stages:
- Questing – the tick climbs vegetation and waits for a passing host.
- Attachment – the tick grasps the host’s hair or skin, pierces the epidermis, and secures the hypostome.
- Engorgement – blood is drawn through a canal in the mouthpart; the tick’s body expands up to 100 times its original size over several days.
- Detachment – after full engorgement, the tick releases the cement and drops off.
Duration varies by species and life stage. Larvae may feed for 2–3 days, nymphs for 4–6 days, and adult females for up to 10 days. The longer the attachment, the higher the probability of pathogen transmission; many bacteria, viruses, and protozoa require several hours of feeding before they can be transferred.
Detection relies on visual inspection of the bite site. Early signs include a small, painless puncture surrounded by a red halo. As feeding continues, the area may become swollen or develop a rash. Prompt removal with fine‑tipped tweezers, grasping the tick as close to the skin as possible and pulling straight upward, reduces the risk of cement fragments remaining embedded.
Understanding each phase clarifies why early removal is critical and why preventive measures—such as wearing protective clothing and applying repellents—target the questing and attachment stages.