What does a tick look like behind a person's ear? - briefly
«A tick behind the ear is a small, oval parasite, typically 3–5 mm long, with a reddish‑brown dorsal shield and lighter, translucent legs.» «When engorged after feeding, it swells to a round, dark gray‑black shape resembling a tiny grape.»
What does a tick look like behind a person's ear? - in detail
A tick attached behind the ear appears as a small, flattened oval body measuring 2–5 mm when unfed. The dorsal surface is reddish‑brown, covered with fine, hair‑like setae that give a slightly fuzzy texture. The ventral side is lighter, often pale cream, and may be partially concealed by the host’s hair.
Legs are eight in number, short and jointed, extending from the anterior margin. They are pale and easily visible when the parasite is not fully engorged. The mouthparts consist of a capitulum with chelicerae and a hypostome, the latter bearing backward‑pointing barbs that anchor the tick to the skin.
During feeding, the tick expands dramatically. An engorged specimen can reach 10–12 mm in length, with the body becoming balloon‑shaped and more translucent. The color shifts toward a deep gray‑brown, and the abdomen may appear glossy due to the blood load.
Key visual cues for identification:
- Size: 2–5 mm unfed, up to 12 mm engorged
- Shape: oval, later becoming rounded and swollen
- Color: reddish‑brown dorsal, pale ventral; darkens when engorged
- Legs: eight, short, pale, visible around the periphery
- Mouthparts: visible capitulum with barbed hypostome at the front
These characteristics enable reliable recognition of a tick situated behind the ear.