What does a tick look like on plants? - briefly
A tick attached to vegetation appears as a tiny, oval, brown or reddish‑black parasite, often 2–5 mm long, with a smooth, dome‑shaped back and six legs visible when close‑up. It typically clings to stems, leaf axils, or tender foliage, appearing as a small, hard‑shelled bump against the plant surface.
What does a tick look like on plants? - in detail
Ticks that attach to vegetation present a recognizable set of visual traits. An unfed adult typically measures 3–5 mm in length, expands to 10 mm or more after feeding, and displays a flat, oval body with a leathery dorsal shield (scutum) that is brown to reddish‑brown. The ventral side is lighter, often pale or creamy. Legs are short, six pairs in total, and extend laterally, giving a “spider‑like” silhouette when the tick is viewed from above.
Larval ticks, called seed ticks, are markedly smaller—about 0.5 mm—lacking a scutum and appearing translucent or pale yellow. Nymphs fall between larvae and adults in size (1–2 mm) and possess a partially developed scutum; coloration ranges from amber to dark brown. All active stages have a smooth, glossy cuticle that reflects light, making them slightly shiny against leaf surfaces.
When attached to a plant, ticks are usually found on the undersides of leaves, near leaf axils, or within dense foliage where humidity is higher. They grip the plant with their fourth pair of legs, which are adapted for grasping. Engorged individuals become markedly distended, their bodies turning a bluish‑gray or deep brown, and the scutum may appear stretched but retains its outline.
Key identification points:
- Size: 0.5 mm (larva), 1–2 mm (nymph), 3–5 mm (unfed adult), up to 10 mm (engorged adult)
- Color: pale/translucent (larva), amber to brown (nymph), brown to reddish‑brown (adult)
- Body shape: flat and oval when unfed; balloon‑like when engorged
- Scutum presence: absent in larvae, partial in nymphs, full in adults
- Leg arrangement: six pairs, with the fourth pair enlarged for attachment
- Typical location on plant: underside of leaves, leaf axils, dense foliage
Observing these characteristics enables reliable detection of ticks on vegetation without reliance on external cues or ambiguous descriptions.