What does an Argas tick look? - briefly
An Argas tick is a soft‑bodied, oval arachnid measuring roughly 2–5 mm, reddish‑brown to dark brown, with a flattened, leathery dorsal surface that lacks a hard scutum. Its short legs are concealed beneath the body, and the mouthparts project forward as a brief, beak‑like hypostome.
What does an Argas tick look? - in detail
Argas ticks are soft-bodied arachnids belonging to the family Argasidae, commonly called soft ticks. Their bodies are elongated, oval, and lack the hard dorsal shield (scutum) found in hard‑tick species. The dorsal surface appears leathery, often mottled with shades of brown, gray, or reddish‑brown, and may show faint, irregular patterns that help camouflage them on hosts or in nest material.
The anterior region houses the mouthparts, which extend forward as a short, beak‑like structure called the capitulum. This proboscis is relatively long compared to the body length, allowing the tick to reach deep into the host’s skin. The legs are short, sturdy, and covered with fine, velvety hairs (setae) that give the tick a fuzzy appearance. Typically, each tick bears eight legs in its adult stage; larvae possess six legs, which are proportionally smaller and less conspicuous.
Key morphological details include:
- Size: Unfed adults range from 4 mm to 12 mm in length; engorged individuals can expand to 15 mm or more. Nymphs and larvae are considerably smaller, often under 2 mm.
- Coloration: Variable from pale tan to dark brown; some specimens exhibit a reddish hue after feeding.
- Cuticle: Soft, flexible, and translucent, allowing internal organs to be partially visible through the exoskeleton.
- Sensory structures: Small, rounded eyes are absent; sensory detection relies on chemoreceptors located on the legs and mouthparts.
When fully engorged, the abdomen swells dramatically, giving the tick a rounded, balloon‑like silhouette. The ventral side reveals a series of ventral plates (ventral shields) that are not visible from above. The overall anatomy enables Argas ticks to survive extended periods without a host, residing in nests, burrows, or crevices where they await feeding opportunities.