What does a city tick look like? - briefly
A city tick appears as a tiny, flat, oval-shaped arachnid, typically brown to reddish‑brown, with a scutum (hard shield) on its back and eight short legs visible around the edges. It is often found in grassy or leaf‑laden areas of urban parks and gardens.
What does a city tick look like? - in detail
A city tick is a small arachnid, typically ranging from 2 mm to 5 mm in length when unfed. Its body consists of two main sections: a dorsal shield called the scutum and a ventral region housing the mouthparts. The scutum is usually brown to reddish‑brown, with a smooth or slightly textured surface. Legs are eight, slender, and jointed, each ending in tiny claws that enable the tick to grasp fabric or hair. The legs display a pale yellow‑orange hue, contrasting with the darker body.
Key visual features include:
- Capitulum: the head region bears a pair of forward‑projecting chelicerae and a small, beak‑like hypostome used for feeding.
- Palps: short, sensory appendages located beside the mouth, often lighter in color.
- Eyes: most urban species lack true eyes; instead, they possess simple light‑sensing organs called Haller’s pits on the first pair of legs.
- Sexual dimorphism: females are generally larger, with a more pronounced scutum, while males have a narrower body and longer legs.
When engorged after a blood meal, the tick expands dramatically, reaching up to 10 mm in length. The abdomen swells, turning a deep gray‑blue or black, and the overall silhouette becomes more rounded. Engorged specimens may appear translucent, allowing internal organs to be faintly visible through the cuticle.
Habitat cues affect appearance. Ticks collected from subway stations often bear dust and microscopic particles, giving the exoskeleton a dull, grayish coating. Those found in parks within the city limits may retain a cleaner, brighter coloration due to less exposure to pollutants.
In summary, a city‑dwelling tick is a compact, brown‑toned arachnid with eight slender legs, a smooth dorsal shield, and a distinctive mouthpart assembly. Its size and coloration change markedly after feeding, and environmental factors can modify the surface texture of its exoskeleton.