What does a red chicken tick look like? - briefly
A red chicken tick is a small arachnid with a reddish‑orange dorsal shield, a dark elongated body, and a often mottled scutum. Its legs are pale, while the ventral side is typically lighter in color.
What does a red chicken tick look like? - in detail
A red chicken tick is a small arachnid measuring approximately 2–3 mm in length when unfed. Its dorsal surface exhibits a vivid reddish‑brown hue that may appear almost orange under direct light. The coloration is uniform, lacking distinct markings or stripes. The scutum—a hardened plate on the back of adult females—is absent, while males possess a faintly pigmented shield that does not contrast sharply with the surrounding cuticle.
Key morphological characteristics include:
- Six legs, each ending in a pair of small claws that enable the tick to cling to feathered hosts.
- A tapered, oval body shape that becomes markedly elongated when the tick fills with blood.
- Mouthparts composed of a short, robust capitulum with chelicerae adapted for piercing the thin skin of poultry.
- Simple eyes situated near the anterior margin, appearing as tiny dark spots.
When engorged, the tick expands to 5–7 mm, the abdomen swelling into a balloon‑like structure that turns a darker, almost blackish red. The ventral surface remains lighter, with a pale, almost translucent appearance that reveals the underlying blood meal. The legs retain their original coloration, providing a contrasting outline against the swollen body.
In the unfed state, the tick’s legs are relatively short and positioned close to the body, giving a compact appearance. After feeding, the legs spread outward, supporting the enlarged abdomen. The overall texture of the cuticle is smooth, without noticeable hairs or spines, which differentiates it from other ixodid species that possess ornate dorsal ornamentation.