What does a kidney tick look like? - briefly
The kidney tick is a tiny arachnid, usually 2–5 mm long, with a reddish‑brown, oval body that expands noticeably after feeding. Its engorged abdomen forms a curved, bean‑like silhouette resembling a kidney shape.
What does a kidney tick look like? - in detail
The kidney tick, a member of the Ixodes genus, presents a small, oval‑shaped body measuring 2–5 mm when unfed. Its dorsal surface is a smooth, dark brown to reddish‑brown shield (scutum) that covers the entire back in females and only the anterior half in males. The scutum lacks distinct patterns; it may show faint speckles but remains uniformly colored.
Legs are eight, relatively short, and bear fine hairs that give a slightly fuzzy appearance. The legs are pale, often lighter than the body, and each segment ends in a small claw. The eyes are absent; sensory organs consist of a pair of simple ocelli located near the front of the idiosoma.
Mouthparts extend forward from the front of the body. The capitulum (feeding apparatus) includes a short, barbed hypostome used to anchor in host tissue, a pair of chelicerae, and palps that appear as tiny, elongated structures beside the hypostome. In an engorged state, the tick’s abdomen expands dramatically, reaching up to 10 mm in length, turning a pale grayish‑white, and becoming balloon‑like while the scutum remains unchanged.
Sexual dimorphism is evident: males retain a fully visible scutum and remain relatively flat, whereas females develop a larger, flexible abdomen that swells after feeding. The ventral side is lighter in color, often pale cream, and may show fine lines marking the spiracular plates.
Key visual cues for identification:
- Oval, smooth scutum, dark brown to reddish‑brown.
- Absence of eyes; sensory pits near the front.
- Eight short, pale legs with fine hairs.
- Distinct capitulum with barbed hypostome.
- Engorged females: enlarged, pale abdomen; males: flat, scutum‑covered body.