What does a black tick look like? - briefly
A black tick is a tiny, oval arachnid, usually 3–5 mm long, with a glossy, uniformly dark exoskeleton and a flat, disc‑shaped body. Its short legs emerge from a smooth, pattern‑free back.
What does a black tick look like? - in detail
A black tick is a small arachnid, typically measuring 2–5 mm when unfed and expanding to 6–10 mm after engorgement. The dorsal surface is uniformly dark, ranging from deep ebony to glossy charcoal. The scutum—a hardened plate on the back of adult females—is absent, while males may retain a faintly lighter scutum. Legs are slender, jointed, and covered with fine, hair‑like setae that appear nearly black in daylight; each leg ends in a small claw used for anchoring to host skin. The mouthparts, including the capitulum and palps, are also black, contrasting slightly with the lighter, translucent cuticle of the ventral side.
Key visual markers include:
- Body shape: Oval to slightly elongated, with a rounded anterior and a tapered posterior.
- Color uniformity: No distinct patterns, stripes, or spots; the cuticle is consistently pigmented.
- Eyes: Two pairs of simple eyes positioned laterally, difficult to discern without magnification.
- Scent glands: Small openings near the posterior margin, invisible to the naked eye but detectable under a microscope.
When fully engorged, the tick’s abdomen swells dramatically, taking on a glossy, almost glass‑like appearance while retaining the deep black hue. The overall silhouette becomes more rounded, and the legs appear shorter relative to the expanded body. These characteristics enable reliable identification of a black tick in both unfed and fed states.