What does a meadow tick look like? - briefly
A meadow tick is a small, reddish‑brown arachnid about 2–4 mm long when unfed, with a rounded, flat body and eight legs. After feeding, its abdomen expands into a dark, glossy sphere up to 10 mm in diameter.
What does a meadow tick look like? - in detail
The meadow tick is a small arachnid, typically 2–4 mm long when unfed and up to 10 mm after a blood meal. Its body consists of two main sections: the anterior capitulum (mouthparts) and the posterior idiosoma (main body). The dorsal surface bears a hardened shield called a scutum; in females the scutum covers only the anterior half, allowing the posterior region to expand during engorgement. The shield is brown to reddish‑brown, often marked with lighter mottling or a faint pattern of pale spots that can form a subtle “U” shape on the posterior edge.
Key external features include:
- Eight legs attached to the posterior idiosoma, each ending in a claw and a set of sensory hairs.
- Palps and chelicerae situated near the mouth, used for grasping the host’s skin.
- Eyes: two simple eyes positioned near the front of the idiosoma.
- Leg segmentation: each leg consists of coxa, trochanter, femur, patella, tibia, and tarsus, with the tarsus bearing a small pulvillus for attachment.
- Glandular openings: a pair of anal plates on the ventral side and a series of spiracular plates along the sides for respiration.
The coloration of the legs matches the body, ranging from dark brown to reddish tones, sometimes displaying a faint striped pattern. The ventral side is lighter, typically pale yellowish or off‑white. When engorged, the tick’s abdomen becomes distended, taking on a rounded, balloon‑like appearance, while the scutum remains relatively unchanged.
Overall morphology combines a compact, shielded dorsal surface with flexible posterior expansion, eight jointed legs equipped for climbing vegetation, and specialized mouthparts designed for deep skin penetration.