What does a tick look like when it has attached? - briefly
When attached, a tick appears as a swollen, balloon‑like body, usually gray‑brown, with its mouthparts embedded in the skin and the abdomen expanded as it fills with blood.
What does a tick look like when it has attached? - in detail
A tick that has begun feeding shows a markedly different appearance from its unfed state. The body swells as blood fills the abdomen, creating a rounded, balloon‑like shape. The dorsal surface becomes glossy and may shift from brown or reddish‑brown to a lighter, almost translucent hue. The overall length can increase several times, depending on the species and duration of attachment.
The ventral side reveals the mouthparts: a pair of chelicerae and a barbed hypostome that anchors the tick firmly to the host’s skin. The hypostome is visible as a small, dark, rod‑like structure protruding from the tick’s front, often surrounded by a halo of clear fluid.
Key visual cues that a tick is attached include:
- Enlarged, rounded abdomen (engorged body)
- Smooth, shiny dorsal cuticle
- Visible hypostome or mouthparts at the front
- Presence of a small, pale or translucent area where the tick’s back meets the skin (the attachment site)
- Possible slight discoloration of the surrounding skin due to irritation or inflammation
Species variations affect coloration and size. For example, the black‑legged (deer) tick typically appears dark brown when unfed and turns a pale gray‑white when engorged, while the American dog tick may retain a reddish‑brown tone even after feeding. Nonetheless, the engorgement pattern—abdominal swelling and exposed mouthparts—remains consistent across tick families.