What Do Ticks Look Like?
Among arachnids, ticks alone are known for possessing only a single body region. Rather than being segmented like their spider relatives, ticks have only an amalgam of the abdomen and head. Perhaps the most telling characteristic of the tick is the presence of large stigmatal plates near the legs. These plates are proximate to the apertures of the respiratory organs.
Hard ticks are known to appear tough and moderately metallic, with shield-like plates along their backs. Also known as the scutum, this protective shield covers the majority of the male tick's body, while it is confined to a smaller region on female specimens. Hard ticks also have clearly visible mouthparts. Soft ticks bear only a leathery exoskeleton. When viewed from above, the mouthparts of the soft tick are not visible.
When engorged with blood, female ticks may expand to measure as long as 3/8-inch. However, most ticks are smaller in size and some are no larger than poppy seeds. Like other arachnids, ticks possess eight legs.
Characteristics of Black-Legged Ticks