What does a tick's head look like embedded in the skin? - briefly
The tick’s mouthparts appear as a tiny, dark, hollow projection (the capitulum) that creates a small, pin‑point depression or shallow crater in the skin. This visible tip is the only part of the tick that remains exposed while the body is engorged underneath.
What does a tick's head look like embedded in the skin? - in detail
A tick’s head, called the capitulum, protrudes from the bite site as a small, dark, cone‑shaped structure. The capitulum includes the hypostome, a barbed, needle‑like organ that penetrates the host’s dermis. The hypostome is typically brown to black, about 0.2–0.5 mm long in unfed ticks, and becomes visible as a tiny point surrounded by a pale halo of skin irritation.
Two short palps flank the hypostome; they appear as slender, slightly lighter‑colored filaments, each 0.1–0.2 mm in length. The palps aid in sensory detection and are often mistaken for the mouthparts themselves. The surrounding base of the capitulum is covered by a hardened shield (the scutum) that merges with the tick’s dorsal plate, giving the head a smooth, rounded contour.
When the tick is attached, the mouthparts embed at an angle of roughly 30–45°, creating a shallow tunnel that can be seen as a tiny puncture. The tunnel’s walls are lined with the tick’s cement secretion, which appears as a translucent, glossy film around the hypostome.
Key visual characteristics:
- Color: dark brown to black, sometimes with a slight reddish tint in engorged stages.
- Shape: conical, tapering to a pointed tip.
- Size: 0.2–0.5 mm in unfed ticks; up to 1 mm after several days of feeding.
- Surrounding tissue: mild erythema, possible slight swelling, and a clear, narrow entry point.
Understanding these details helps differentiate a tick’s head from other skin lesions and informs safe removal techniques.