What does a young tick look like? - briefly
A tick larva measures about 0.5 mm, appears translucent or pale reddish, and has six legs instead of the eight found in later stages. Its body is smooth, oval, and lacks the hardened scutum that characterizes adult ticks.
What does a young tick look like? - in detail
A newly hatched tick, known as a larva, measures approximately 0.5 mm in length. Its body is soft, lacking the hardened scutum that characterizes adult females. The cuticle appears pale amber or light brown, almost translucent, which makes the creature difficult to see against vegetation. Six legs extend from the ventral side; the front pair is slightly longer, aiding in the quest for a host.
The head region contains a pair of chelicerae and a hypostome, both adapted for piercing skin and anchoring during feeding. No eyes are present; sensory detection relies on Haller’s organ located on the first pair of legs, which responds to carbon dioxide, heat, and movement. The dorsal surface is smooth, without distinct segmentation, while the ventral side bears small, rounded plates that will develop into the adult’s scutum after molting.
Key morphological traits of the larval stage:
- Length: 0.4–0.6 mm
- Color: translucent amber to light brown
- Legs: six, with elongated front pair
- Eyes: absent
- Sensory organ: Haller’s organ on each front leg
- Mouthparts: chelicerae and hypostome for blood attachment
- Dorsal shield: absent, soft cuticle only
After locating a host, the larva engorges, increasing its size up to tenfold. Feeding lasts several days, after which it detaches and molts into a nymph, acquiring a darker coloration and a partially hardened dorsal plate. The transition from larva to nymph marks the first significant change in appearance, preparing the tick for subsequent life stages.