What do a common and a forest tick look like in photos? - briefly
A typical common tick appears as a small, reddish‑brown, oval body about 3–5 mm long, with a smooth scutum covering the dorsal surface. A forest‑dwelling tick is generally darker, slightly larger, and shows more pronounced leg segmentation and a lighter ventral region in close‑up photographs.
What do a common and a forest tick look like in photos? - in detail
The typical tick encountered in everyday environments measures 2–3 mm in length when unfed, expanding to 5–10 mm after a blood meal. Its dorsal surface, called the scutum, is brown‑to‑dark brown, often smooth and oval. The capitulum (mouthparts) projects forward, giving a distinctive “beak” appearance. Legs are six pairs, each bearing a dark band near the tip, and the base of the legs is lighter in color. In photographs, the unfed specimen shows a compact, rounded silhouette, while the engorged stage appears swollen, with the abdomen dominating the body shape and the scutum covering only a small portion of the dorsum.
The forest‑dwelling tick, frequently identified as the European woodland species, ranges from 2.5 mm (unfed) to 8 mm (engorged). Its scutum exhibits a darker, often mottled pattern with fine, irregular markings that may include lighter spots or a subtle checkerboard arrangement. The capitulum is proportionally larger, extending further from the body, and the palps are more elongated. Legs display a pronounced contrast: the proximal segments are pale, while the distal segments are deep brown or black, creating a striped effect visible in close‑up images. Engorged individuals present an elongated, teardrop‑shaped abdomen, with the scutum confined to the anterior region and the posterior abdomen appearing translucent.
Key visual differences observable in photographs:
- Size progression: forest tick generally larger in both unfed and engorged stages.
- Scutum pattern: smooth and uniform in the common species; mottled and variably pigmented in the forest species.
- Capitulum length: shorter in the common tick, more extended in the forest tick.
- Leg coloration: uniform dark banding in the common tick; contrasting light‑dark banding in the forest tick.
Photographic identification relies on these morphological markers, allowing precise discrimination between the two species without the need for microscopic examination.