How to recognize a tick on the leg? - briefly
A tick looks like a small, oval, dark‑brown or reddish spot firmly attached to the skin, usually near hair follicles or the ankle, and feels like a raised, painless bump. An engorged specimen appears swollen, elongated, with a visible abdomen through its back.
How to recognize a tick on the leg? - in detail
Ticks attached to the lower limb are small arachnids that attach themselves to the skin for blood feeding. They differ from insects by having eight legs in the adult stage and a body divided into a front segment (capitulum) and a rear segment (idiosoma).
Key visual characteristics:
- Oval or round shape, often resembling a tiny, flattened bean.
- Color varies from brown to gray; after feeding, the body may appear swollen and reddish.
- Presence of a visible mouthpart (hypostome) at the front, appearing as a tiny protrusion.
- Size ranges from 1 mm (unfed) to 10 mm or more (engorged).
Practical steps for inspection:
- Use a magnifying glass or smartphone camera to view the attachment closely.
- Look for the capitulum; a tick’s head is distinct from a flea’s smooth, rounded body.
- Note the degree of engorgement; a flat, pale specimen indicates a recent bite, while a bulging, dark one signals prolonged feeding.
- Check the surrounding skin for a small, red puncture mark; ticks embed their mouthparts deeply, leaving a pinpoint wound.
Distinguishing from similar organisms:
- Fleas are jumpers, lack a visible head, and are typically darker and more compact.
- Mites are microscopic, often invisible without high magnification, and do not enlarge after feeding.
- Spiders have two main body sections and eight legs visible from a distance, unlike the single-segmented appearance of a tick.
When identification is uncertain or the attachment has persisted for more than 24 hours, consult a healthcare professional. Prompt removal with fine‑point tweezers, grasping the tick close to the skin and pulling upward with steady pressure, reduces the risk of disease transmission.