What does a lemon tick look? - briefly
A lemon tick is a tiny, bright‑yellow arachnid that resembles a standard tick but displays a uniformly lemon‑colored, slightly elongated body. It measures roughly 2–3 mm and lacks the dark markings typical of other tick species.
What does a lemon tick look? - in detail
A lemon‑associated tick is a small arachnid measuring 2–4 mm when unfed and expanding to 6–10 mm after a blood meal. The dorsal surface is oval, slightly flattened, and covered with fine, semi‑transparent hairs that give a matte, pale‑yellow hue resembling the fruit’s rind. The ventral side is lighter, often almost white, with a smooth texture.
Key visual traits include:
- Six legs on each side, arranged in three pairs, each leg ending in a small claw for grasping surfaces.
- A scutum (hard shield) on the back of adult females, pale and lightly pigmented; males possess a more extensive, darker scutum.
- Mouthparts located ventrally: a short, straight capitulum with chelicerae that appear as tiny, curved hooks.
- Eyes positioned laterally on the anterior margin, each consisting of a simple ocellus rather than a compound eye.
- A pair of spiracular plates near the posterior edge, barely visible beneath the scutum, used for respiration.
When engorged, the tick’s abdomen swells dramatically, turning a deeper amber or brownish color while retaining the overall oval outline. The legs become more visible against the enlarged body, and the scutum may appear stretched but remains intact. The tick’s overall silhouette remains recognizably tick‑like, distinct from other orchard pests due to its smooth, lemon‑colored dorsal shield and the absence of pronounced spines or ornamentation.