What does the remaining part of a tick's head look like? - briefly
The residual portion consists of the tick’s capitulum, a narrow, brown‑black, barbed tube that stays embedded in the skin like a tiny, pencil‑shaped tip. It appears as a small, hard, pointed fragment protruding from the bite site.
What does the remaining part of a tick's head look like? - in detail
The portion of a tick that remains after the body is detached consists of the capitulum, commonly called the head. It is a compact, hardened structure that houses the feeding apparatus and sensory organs.
The capitulum includes:
- Hypostome – a barbed, steel‑blue tube that penetrates the host’s skin. Its surface bears rows of backward‑pointing teeth that anchor the tick during blood intake.
- Chelicerae – a pair of slender, blade‑like appendages positioned laterally to the hypostome. They cut through the epidermis to create the entry point for the hypostome.
- Palps – two short, sensory appendages situated on either side of the hypostome. They detect chemical cues and assist in positioning the mouthparts.
- Basis capituli – the sclerotized base that supports the three components above. It appears as a dark, triangular shield at the front of the tick.
The capitulum’s cuticle is thickened with chitin, giving it a glossy, dark brown to black coloration. The overall shape is roughly triangular when viewed dorsally, tapering toward the tip of the hypostome. The surface is smooth except for the minute denticles on the hypostome and the minute setae on the palps.
When a tick is removed improperly, only the capitulum may stay embedded in the host’s skin. Its small size—typically 0.2–0.5 mm in length—makes visual detection difficult without magnification. Microscopic examination reveals the distinct arrangement of the hypostome, chelicerae, and palps within the sclerotized shield, confirming that the remaining part is the feeding apparatus rather than any internal organs.