What do attached ticks look like? - briefly
An engorged tick attached to skin appears as a rounded, flattened body swollen to the size of a pea, with a gray‑brown or reddish hue and a smooth, hairless surface. The mouthparts remain embedded, often visible as a tiny dark point at the center.
What do attached ticks look like? - in detail
Ticks that have secured themselves to a host exhibit a distinct morphology that differs from their unfed, free‑living stage. The mouthparts, called the capitulum, are visible as a small, dark, pointed projection protruding from the tick’s dorsal surface. In many species the capitulum appears as a short, brown or black “beak” measuring 0.5–1 mm in length, often angled upward toward the skin.
The body (idiosoma) swells after feeding, becoming engorged and rounded. Initial attachment shows a flattened, oval shape about 2–3 mm long; as blood intake proceeds, the size can increase three‑ to ten‑fold, reaching 5–10 mm in length for adult females. Engorged ticks display a glossy, stretched cuticle that may appear pale gray, light brown, or reddish, depending on species and the amount of blood ingested. The dorsal surface may retain the original scutum—a hard shield—on the anterior portion, while the posterior abdomen expands.
Legs remain clearly visible around the perimeter of the tick. They are short, sturdy, and typically dark brown or black. The legs are positioned close to the body, giving the attached tick a compact appearance. The ventral side is pressed flat against the skin, and the feeding tube (hypostome) is embedded within the epidermis, often accompanied by a small, waxy cement secretion that secures the attachment.
Key visual cues for an attached tick include:
- Visible capitulum projecting from the dorsal surface.
- Swollen, rounded abdomen that expands markedly after feeding.
- Dark, compact legs encircling the body’s edges.
- Absence of movement; the tick remains stationary while anchored.
Recognizing these characteristics aids in accurate identification and timely removal.