Ticks are small arachnids that resemble tiny spiders, generally ranging in color from reddish, dark brown, to black. They have eight legs, which distinguishes them from insects, and their bodies consist of two main parts: a small head and a larger, rounded abdomen
. In size, ticks are often no larger than a sesame seed (1-3 mm) before feeding, but after feeding on blood, they can swell significantly, sometimes to the size of a coffee bean or an apple seed
. Tick nymphs are about the size of a poppy seed, and larvae are even smaller, about the size of a grain of sand
. There are two main types of ticks based on their appearance:
- Hard ticks: These have a hardened shield called a scutum on their backs, and their mouthparts are visible from above. Adults are roughly ΒΌ to 3/8 inch long (about the size of a freckle). Their legs curve with the front pairs toward the head and the hind pairs toward the abdomen
- Soft ticks: These have a leathery, more oblong, and fatter body with mouthparts not visible from above. They look like small, symmetrical beans with legs and are less commonly encountered
When attached to skin, a tick looks like a small dark bump or protrusion, sometimes mistaken for a mole or a skin tag. The area around the bite may be red or swollen
. In summary, a typical tick looks like a tiny, dark-colored spider-like bug with eight legs and a rounded body that can swell after feeding. Its size before feeding is comparable to a sesame seed or smaller, and it can appear as a small dark bump on the skin when attached
