What do ticks look like when they are engorged with blood? - briefly
Engorged ticks appear dramatically swollen, with a balloon‑like, pale‑gray abdomen that stretches the body many times its original size, while the cuticle becomes glossy and the legs may splay outward. The overall shape changes from flat and elongated to rounded and distended.
What do ticks look like when they are engorged with blood? - in detail
Engorged ticks undergo a dramatic transformation that is readily observable. The dorsal surface expands from a flat, oval shape to a rounded, balloon‑like profile, often increasing in length by three to five times the unfed size. For example, a female Ixodes scapularis may grow from 2 mm to 10 mm when fully fed.
Color shifts from a dark brown or reddish hue to a pale gray‑white or bluish tint as the cuticle stretches over the swollen abdomen. The cuticle becomes translucent, revealing the engorged gut filled with blood. The ventral side shows a similar expansion, with the abdomen protruding beyond the legs, which remain relatively short and positioned near the anterior.
Key visual characteristics include:
- Size: Length ranges from 5 mm in small species to over 20 mm in large hard ticks after feeding.
- Shape: Rounded, balloon‑shaped abdomen; overall silhouette appears convex rather than flattened.
- Color: Lightened, often gray‑white; internal blood may give a reddish or pinkish sheen through the cuticle.
- Texture: Cuticle appears smooth and stretched; surface may look glossy due to the underlying fluid.
- Legs: Still visible but appear cramped against the enlarged body; may seem proportionally shorter.
- Mouthparts: Remain anchored to the host; the hypostome is not visible externally but the feeding canal is enlarged internally.
These traits persist for several days to weeks, depending on species and environmental conditions, until the tick detaches and the abdomen contracts during the molting or egg‑laying phase. The visual cues are reliable indicators of a recent blood meal and can aid in identification and removal.