What might a tick look like? - briefly
A tick is a tiny, oval arachnid, usually 2–5 mm long when unfed, with a reddish‑brown or dark brown dorsum and a hardened scutum covering the female’s back. Its mouthparts form a protruding capitulum for piercing skin, and its short legs enable it to grasp hosts.
What might a tick look like? - in detail
A tick is a small arachnid, typically ranging from 2 mm to 8 mm in unfed condition. The body consists of two main sections: the anterior capitulum, which houses the mouthparts, and the posterior idiosoma, which contains the legs and internal organs. The capitulum is often darker, appearing brown to black, and may be slightly recessed into the body.
The idiosoma displays a rounded or oval silhouette, with a dorsally visible scutum in many species. The scutum is a hardened plate that can be uniform in color—light brown, reddish‑brown, or dark brown—or patterned with mottled spots. In females, the scutum typically covers only the anterior portion, leaving the posterior abdomen expandable after a blood meal; males often possess a complete scutum covering the entire dorsal surface.
Legs are eight in number, short and sturdy, attached near the anterior margin. Each leg ends in a claw that aids in grasping the host’s skin. Leg coloration matches the body, ranging from pale tan to dark brown, and may appear slightly translucent in immature stages.
Key visual characteristics include:
- Size: 2–8 mm (unfed), up to 15 mm after engorgement.
- Shape: oval, slightly flattened dorsally.
- Color palette: brown, reddish‑brown, black, occasionally pale or mottled.
- Scutum: present in most species; partial in females, complete in males.
- Mouthparts: protruding hypostome with barbed hooks, visible as a small, dark projection at the front.
When engorged, the tick’s abdomen expands dramatically, becoming balloon‑like, with a glossy, pale appearance that may turn reddish‑brown as digestion progresses. The overall silhouette becomes more rounded, and the legs may appear splayed outward due to the increased body volume.