What do the eggs of a subcutaneous tick look like? - briefly
The eggs form a small, white‑to‑cream, oval or spherical sac about 0.5–1 mm in diameter, giving the skin a smooth, slightly raised, translucent nodule. They resemble a tiny cotton‑like cluster that can be seen through the epidermis.
What do the eggs of a subcutaneous tick look like? - in detail
The eggs produced by a tick that embeds beneath the skin are microscopic, oval‑shaped structures measuring approximately 0.2–0.3 mm in length. Their outer membrane is smooth and semi‑transparent, allowing the developing embryo to be faintly visible as a darker spot within. When numerous eggs are deposited, they are enclosed in a thin, gelatinous capsule that adheres to the surrounding tissue; the capsule appears as a pale, whitish‑cream mass, often flattened against the dermal surface.
Key visual characteristics:
- Color: translucent to whitish‑cream; embryos may appear amber or brownish as they mature.
- Shape: elongated ovoid, slightly tapered at both ends.
- Surface texture: smooth, lacking ridges or ornamentation; the capsule surface is gelatinous and may exhibit a faint sheen.
- Arrangement: eggs are packed tightly within the capsule, typically in a single layer, creating a uniform, densely packed appearance.
- Location: the capsule resides just beneath the epidermis, often visible through the skin as a subtle, raised patch.
During the incubation period (approximately 7–10 days at 25 °C), the eggs gradually change color as the embryos develop, and the capsule may become more opaque. Upon hatching, the newly emerged larvae emerge from the capsule, leaving behind a small, empty, translucent sac that may persist briefly before being reabsorbed or expelled by the host’s immune response.