How to see a strawberry tick? - briefly
Inspect the fruit and foliage with a magnifying lens under bright light; the strawberry tick appears as a tiny, translucent, reddish speck moving among the leaves. If visibility is low, gently shake the plant over a white surface to make the insects more apparent.
How to see a strawberry tick? - in detail
Observing a strawberry‑associated tick requires preparation, appropriate tools, and knowledge of the insect’s habits.
First, locate a field or garden where strawberries are cultivated. Ticks that feed on strawberry plants are most active during warm, humid periods, typically from late spring to early autumn. Choose a day with temperatures between 20 °C and 28 °C and relative humidity above 70 %.
Second, equip yourself with the following items:
- Fine‑mesh sweep net (mesh size ≤ 0.5 mm)
- White‑colored tray or petri dish
- Hand lens (10× magnification) or portable stereo microscope
- Soft forceps for handling specimens
- Protective gloves to prevent bites
Third, conduct a systematic sweep:
- Position the net a few centimeters above the foliage.
- Move the net back and forth across the plant canopy for 30‑45 seconds per row.
- Transfer captured material onto the white tray, shaking gently to separate insects from debris.
- Examine the tray under the hand lens, focusing on the dorsal surface of each organism.
Fourth, identify the target tick by morphological features:
- Oval body, 2‑3 mm long, reddish‑brown coloration.
- Scutum (shield) with a distinctive speckled pattern resembling a strawberry’s surface.
- Six legs on the anterior segment and eight on the posterior, each bearing fine hairs.
- Mouthparts positioned ventrally, adapted for plant feeding.
Fifth, document observations:
- Photograph specimens using a macro lens, ensuring even illumination.
- Record location coordinates, temperature, humidity, and time of collection.
- Preserve a subset in 70 % ethanol for later laboratory analysis.
Finally, release non‑target insects back onto the plants, and clean equipment to avoid cross‑contamination. Repeating the sweep at different times of day provides data on activity peaks, enhancing the reliability of observations.