What does a sucking tick look like on a human body? - briefly
A feeding tick presents as a small, round, gray‑brown bump that may be slightly raised and swollen with blood, resembling a tiny bead or smooth disc. Its mouthparts form a tiny dark pinhole at the center where it is attached.
What does a sucking tick look like on a human body? - in detail
A feeding tick appears as a dark, swollen nodule attached to the skin. The abdomen expands dramatically, often reaching the size of a small grape, while the legs remain visible as a halo of short, pale legs that may be partially hidden beneath the engorged body. The surrounding skin can show a small puncture mark where the mouthparts entered, sometimes surrounded by a faint red halo caused by mild irritation or inflammation.
Key visual characteristics include:
- Size: From a few millimeters when unfed to up to 10 mm or more after several days of blood intake.
- Color: Dark brown to black when fully engorged; lighter shades may be present on the legs and mouthparts.
- Shape: Rounded, balloon‑like abdomen with a narrower anterior region where the mouthparts protrude.
- Legs: Eight short legs radiating from the base of the abdomen, often obscured by the swollen body.
- Attachment point: A tiny, often invisible, opening at the skin surface where the tick’s hypostome (a barbed feeding tube) is anchored.
The tick remains firmly attached for the duration of its blood meal, typically 3–7 days. During this period, the engorged body continues to enlarge, and the skin around the attachment may become slightly raised or itchy. If the tick is removed prematurely, the abdomen may appear less expanded and the legs more clearly defined. After detachment, the empty exoskeleton drops off, leaving a small, pale scar where the mouthparts were embedded.