What does a tick in a house look like? - briefly
A house tick is a tiny, oval arachnid about 2–5 mm long, reddish‑brown to dark brown, with a smooth, flattened body and eight legs that become apparent when it expands while feeding. When engorged, it swells to a grape‑like size, turning pale and soft.
What does a tick in a house look like? - in detail
Ticks that wander indoors are small arachnids, typically ranging from 1 mm to 6 mm in length depending on species and developmental stage. Their bodies consist of two main sections: the anterior capitulum, which houses the mouthparts, and the posterior idiosoma, which contains the legs and internal organs. The capitulum appears as a tiny, forward‑projecting shield and may be darker than the rest of the body.
Size and shape
- Larvae (seed ticks): approximately 0.5 mm, translucent or pale cream, with six legs.
- Nymphs: 1–2 mm, reddish‑brown, eight legs, more robust than larvae.
- Adult females: 3–5 mm when unfed, dark brown to black, oval, engorged females can swell to 10 mm.
- Adult males: 2–3 mm, smaller than females, darker coloration, less rounded abdomen.
Coloration
- Unfed stages exhibit a uniform brown or reddish hue.
- Engorged females become markedly lighter, often appearing grayish‑white due to blood expansion.
- Some species display a distinct dorsal pattern, such as a pale spot on the scutum of Ixodes ricinus.
Surface texture
- The dorsal shield (scutum) is hard, glossy, and may have a slightly raised border.
- The ventral side is softer, with visible segmentation in the legs.
- Tick legs are relatively long compared to body width, ending in clawed tarsi that aid attachment to fabrics or furniture.
Behavioral clues
- When disturbed, ticks may crawl slowly, leaving a fine, silvery trail of fecal material.
- They tend to hide in cracks, under carpets, or on pet bedding where humidity is higher.
Recognizing these characteristics—size range, leg count, coloration changes during feeding, and the presence of a hard dorsal shield—allows accurate identification of a tick encountered inside a residence.