What does a raspberry tick look like? - briefly
A raspberry tick is a tiny, reddish‑brown arachnid about 2–5 mm in length, featuring a flat, oval body covered by a dark scutum and eight pale legs. Its coloration creates a speckled look that blends with the fruit’s surface.
What does a raspberry tick look like? - in detail
A raspberry tick is a small arachnid measuring roughly 2–4 mm in length when unfed. The body consists of two main sections: a rounded, dark brown or reddish‑brown scutum covering the dorsal surface of the idiosoma, and a slightly lighter, shield‑like capitulum housing the mouthparts. The scutum is smooth, lacking distinct patterns, and may appear glossy under magnification.
The tick possesses eight legs, each slender and jointed, extending outward from the posterior margin of the scutum. Legs are pale‑yellow to light brown, with fine setae that give a faintly fuzzy appearance. The front pair of legs are longer than the rear ones, aiding in host detection. The pedipalps are short and robust, positioned near the mouthparts.
Key morphological details:
- Capitulum: short, triangular, bearing chelicerae and a hypostome with serrated barbs for anchoring to the host’s skin.
- Palps: thick, with a sensory groove on the ventral side.
- Eyes: absent; the tick relies on sensory receptors on the legs.
- Spirotrichous setae: fine hairs on the dorsal surface, providing a subtle velvety texture.
- Leg segmentation: each leg comprises seven segments (coxa, trochanter, femur, patella, tibia, tarsus, and pretarsus) with small, rounded pulvilli at the tip for attachment.
During the engorged stage, after feeding on a raspberry plant’s fruit or surrounding wildlife, the tick’s body expands dramatically, reaching up to 8 mm and turning a pale, semi‑transparent hue. The scutum remains unchanged in size, while the surrounding cuticle stretches, creating a distended, balloon‑like shape.
The species commonly encountered on raspberry crops exhibits a preference for the undersides of leaves and the crevices of fruit clusters, where humidity is high. Its coloration provides camouflage against the dark foliage, making visual detection difficult without close inspection.