How does a tick's female appear? - briefly
A female tick is noticeably larger and more rounded than a male, especially after a blood meal, with a swollen abdomen that dominates its body shape. Unlike males, it possesses only a small dorsal shield near the head rather than a full‑body scutum.
How does a tick's female appear? - in detail
Female ticks are generally larger than males, with a rounded, engorged abdomen that expands dramatically after a blood meal. The dorsal surface (scutum) is a hard plate covering only the anterior portion of the body; the posterior region remains flexible to accommodate swelling. Color varies among species, ranging from reddish‑brown to dark brown, often becoming paler when fully engorged.
Key morphological features include:
- Capitulum: mouthparts located at the front, consisting of chelicerae, palps, and a hypostome equipped with barbs for secure attachment.
- Legs: eight legs, each bearing sensory setae; legs are longer relative to body size in females, aiding in host detection.
- Genital aperture: situated ventrally near the posterior end, visible as a small opening used for egg laying.
- Anal groove: a shallow furrow behind the anus, useful for species identification.
During the feeding cycle, the female progresses through the following stages:
- Larva: six-legged, translucent, attaches to a small host for a brief blood meal.
- Nymph: eight-legged, slightly larger, molts after feeding.
- Adult: after the final molt, the female seeks a larger host, attaches for several days, and expands its body up to 100 times its original size. After detachment, she deposits thousands of eggs in the environment.
Engorged females exhibit a smooth, balloon‑like silhouette, with the scutum appearing as a small shield at the front and the rest of the dorsum stretching over the abdomen. The ventral side shows a widened, soft cuticle and the prominent genital opening used for oviposition. This distinctive morphology differentiates adult females from males, which retain a fully covered scutum and remain comparatively slender.