What does an enlarged tick look like? - briefly
An enlarged tick presents as a swollen, rounded body that is noticeably darker and larger than a typical tick, often resembling a small, reddish‑brown or grayish lump. It may reach several millimeters in diameter, roughly the size of a pea.
What does an enlarged tick look like? - in detail
An enlarged tick presents a markedly swollen, oval body that can reach up to 1 cm in length, resembling a small, smooth, leather‑like capsule. The dorsal surface loses the typical flat, scutum pattern of an unfed specimen, becoming uniformly rounded and often glossy from the stretched cuticle. Color shifts from light brown to a dark brown or reddish hue as blood fills the interior; in some species a bluish‑gray tint appears near the legs.
Key visual characteristics include:
- Body shape: Rounded, balloon‑like abdomen that dominates the anterior scutum, giving a “balloon” silhouette.
- Size: Length comparable to a pea or larger; width expands proportionally, sometimes exceeding the length.
- Surface texture: Smooth, slightly elastic skin that may appear translucent when the cuticle is thin.
- Legs: Six visible legs (the front pair may be partially hidden) retain a thin, jointed appearance, extending outward like short antennae.
- Mouthparts: Prominent capitulum (mouthparts) protruding from the front, with visible palps and hypostome; the hypostome often shows a dark, barbed tip.
- Color variation: Dark brown to black overall, with possible reddish or pinkish tones in the abdomen due to ingested blood.
During engorgement, the tick’s internal organs expand, causing the cuticle to stretch uniformly. The scutum, which remains a fixed size in hard‑bodied ticks, becomes a small, unchanging patch on the dorsal surface, while the rest of the body enlarges dramatically. This change differentiates an engorged specimen from a nymph or adult that has not fed.