What does a tick suck out? - briefly
Ticks extract the host’s blood, ingesting plasma, red blood cells, and a small amount of lymph. Their saliva delivers anticoagulants and immunomodulatory proteins that aid the feeding process.
What does a tick suck out? - in detail
Ticks attach to a host’s skin using their specialized mouthparts, then insert a feeding tube called a hypostome. Through this tube they draw liquid from the host’s circulatory system. The primary substance extracted is blood, which provides proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, electrolytes, and water necessary for the tick’s growth and reproduction. In addition to blood, ticks inject and subsequently retrieve small quantities of saliva that contain anti‑coagulants, immunomodulatory compounds, and enzymes. These salivary components prevent clotting, suppress the host’s immune response, and facilitate prolonged feeding.
Components of the ingested fluid
- Red blood cells – supply hemoglobin and iron.
- Plasma – delivers glucose, amino acids, and lipids.
- Electrolytes – maintain osmotic balance for the tick.
- Salivary secretions – include anticoagulants (e.g., apyrase), vasodilators, and immunosuppressive proteins.
During feeding, ticks can also acquire pathogens present in the host’s blood, such as Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease), Rickettsia spp., and Babesia spp. These organisms become incorporated into the tick’s gut and may be transmitted to subsequent hosts via the same salivary apparatus.
The volume of fluid taken varies by species and life stage. Larvae may ingest a few microliters, while adult females of hard ticks can consume up to 0.5 ml of blood over several days, enough to increase their body weight severalfold.
In summary, the substance removed by a tick consists of whole blood and associated plasma constituents, supplemented by trace amounts of salivary material that aid in feeding and pathogen transmission.