What does a biting tick look like? - briefly
A feeding tick appears as a small, dark, oval body attached to the skin, with an expanded, pale‑to‑reddish abdomen and visible legs surrounding the attachment point. Its mouthparts may be seen as a tiny protrusion at the center of the attachment.
What does a biting tick look like? - in detail
A feeding tick presents a distinct visual profile that separates it from its unfed counterpart. The body expands dramatically, often reaching the size of a small grape or a pea, depending on the species and duration of attachment. The dorsal surface becomes smooth and glossy, losing the granular texture typical of an unfed tick. Color shifts from pale brown or gray to a deep reddish‑brown or even black, reflecting the blood that fills the abdomen.
Key identifying features include:
- Enlarged abdomen: Rounded, balloon‑like expansion that dominates the overall shape.
- Flattened anterior: The front segment (capitulum) remains relatively thin, housing the chelicerae and hypostome used for piercing skin.
- Visible mouthparts: The barbed hypostome may be seen protruding slightly from the skin, especially in hard‑shell (Ixodidae) species.
- Absence of legs movement: Once attached, the tick’s eight legs become immobile, anchored to the host’s skin.
- Skin indentation: A small, often circular depression surrounds the attachment site, sometimes surrounded by a faint reddened halo.
When a tick is actively feeding, the scutum (the hard shield on the dorsal side) covers only a portion of the body, allowing the abdomen to swell. In contrast, unfed ticks have a fully covering scutum that limits expansion. The engorged form may also exhibit a glossy sheen due to the tension of the stretched cuticle.
Observing these characteristics—marked abdominal enlargement, color darkening, smooth dorsal surface, and a stationary mouthpart cluster—provides a reliable means of recognizing a tick that is currently attached and ingesting blood.