What does a dried tick look like? - briefly
A dried tick looks like a tiny, shriveled brown‑gray shell, roughly the size of a grain of rice, with a flattened, leathery body and legs tucked close to the abdomen.
What does a dried tick look like? - in detail
A desiccated tick is a compact, oval-shaped arachnid measuring roughly 2–5 mm when unfed and up to 10 mm after a blood meal. The body consists of two main sections: the anterior capitulum, which houses the mouthparts, and the posterior idiosoma, which contains the legs and internal organs. In the dried state the capitulum appears as a small, darkened, slightly raised projection, often brown to black, with the chelicerae and hypostome barely visible.
The idiosoma is hardened, its cuticle turning from the bright reddish or amber hue of a fresh specimen to a matte, brownish‑gray or tan color. Surface texture becomes rough and papery; the exoskeleton may crack along the dorsal shield, creating fine lines that give the specimen a shrunken, parchment‑like appearance. Legs are short, curled inward, and their joints are less distinct, sometimes appearing as faint, stubby extensions rather than articulated limbs.
Key visual characteristics of a dehydrated tick include:
- Color shift: from vivid reddish‑brown to muted brown, gray, or tan.
- Size reduction: overall length contracts by 10–30 % as the body loses moisture.
- Texture change: cuticle becomes brittle, with a dry, flaky surface.
- Leg posture: legs are retracted, appearing as tiny, almost invisible protrusions.
- Mouthpart visibility: capitulum remains as a dark, compact knob, often the most prominent feature.
These traits enable reliable identification of a dried tick even when the specimen is detached from a host or found in the environment.