What is the female tick called? - briefly
A female tick is simply referred to as a female tick; when fully fed, it is often called an engorged female.
What is the female tick called? - in detail
The adult female of the Acari order is referred to simply as a female tick. In scientific literature the term “female tick” is used without a special common name; it is distinguished from the male by the label “female” and by its physiological state.
During the blood‑feeding stage the female expands dramatically, becoming an engorged female. This engorgement is a diagnostic characteristic: the abdomen swells to many times its unfed size, and the cuticle thins to accommodate the blood meal. After detaching from the host, the engorged female lays thousands of eggs, completing the reproductive cycle.
Key morphological differences between sexes include:
- Size: unfed females are generally larger than males.
- Gnathosoma: females possess a longer, more robust hypostome for deep attachment.
- Palps: female palps are broader, aiding in securing the host.
In taxonomic descriptions, the sex is indicated by the abbreviation “♀” or by the phrase “female” following the species name, e.g., Ixodes scapularis (female). No alternative vernacular term exists; the designation remains “female tick.”