What does a citrus tick look like? - briefly
A citrus tick is a tiny, reddish‑brown arachnid roughly 2–3 mm in length, featuring a flat, oval body with a dorsal scutum and six visible legs when engorged. Its ventral side is pale, often creamy, contrasting with the darker dorsal coloration.
What does a citrus tick look like? - in detail
The citrus tick is a small arachnid, typically measuring 2–4 mm in length when unfed. Its dorsal shield (scutum) is oval, dark brown to black, and bears a finely punctate surface. The edges of the scutum may display a pale, ivory‑colored margin, especially on females.
The ventral side shows a lighter, creamy coloration with a distinct, darker anal groove. Legs are relatively long, slender, and jointed, each ending in a tiny claw that aids in gripping foliage. The legs are banded with alternating dark and light segments, giving a striped appearance.
Mouthparts (capitulum) project forward, consisting of a short, robust hypostome and chelicerae adapted for piercing plant tissue. The palps are short and robust, matching the overall dark hue of the body.
When engorged after a blood meal, the tick expands dramatically, reaching up to 10 mm. The body becomes a soft, balloon‑like structure, color shifting to a pale gray or reddish tint. The scutum remains visible as a darker patch on the anterior portion.
Key visual identifiers:
- Oval scutum, dark with possible pale margin
- Light ventral surface with darker anal groove
- Leg segments banded in contrasting colors
- Forward‑projecting capitulum with short palps
- Significant size increase and color change when engorged
These characteristics distinguish the citrus tick from other ixodid species commonly encountered on citrus trees.