How many paws does a tick have: how a dangerous “bloodsucker” moves in pursuit of a victim
How many paws a tick has at first glance can be difficult to determine. Ticks are animals, the largest group in the class of arachnids, which has more than 54 thousand species. The body size of most species of ticks is from 0,08 mm (80 microns) to 3 mm. The oval shape of the body consists of two segments - the head and the abdomen, to which the legs are attached.
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The structure of the legs of ticks
The structure of the legs of the tick largely coincides with the structure of the limbs of insects:
- pelvis;
- swivel;
- hip;
- knee;
- shin;
- paw.
There are four pairs of legs in total, but the fourth pair does not appear in the tick immediately, but some time after birth. Therefore, how many legs a tick has - 6 or 8 depends on its age.
Modification and functions of the limbs of the tick
But despite the common signs, ticks can differ dramatically in length, body shape and paw structure. Most often, the hind legs are subject to anatomical changes, which may be more curved, have thickenings, suction cups or hooks for effective hunting in order to cling and hold onto the prey more firmly.
The final leg segment, the tarsus, often undergoes changes depending on the lifestyle of the parasite. It may bifurcate, may have more hairs and villi. The number of tick leg segments also varies from 4 to 18 elements.
Some subspecies retain three pairs of legs throughout development, while the rarest only two pairs.
What are the bristles on the legs of a tick for?
How ticks move
Emerging from the clutch of eggs in moist, hidden dark places, the mite larva goes through all stages of development to a sexually mature individual. During all stages of growth, the living creature feeds, first, nutrients available to the larvae around it or parasitizing on small rodents. And when growing up and the full development of the body, the tick is looking for a larger victim.
Thanks to the primitive digestive system, the tick can be without food for a long time and go into hibernation. This allows him to hide for a long time when hunting and wait for his prey.
How high can ticks climb
For hunting, the tick uses hills in the form of blades of grass and shrubs, climbing up to an average of half a meter along them. Keeping its hind legs on a blade of grass, it raises its front legs, with catching bristles, to quickly grab onto the prey. It moves by clinging to other animals or clinging to human clothing. This method allows not only to find food, but also to move long distances, expanding the range.
How and where a person is at risk of being bitten by ticks
Ticks exist almost everywhere and at different temperature conditions. They can be found in the forest, in the park, in the shade of caves, near water bodies, in houses and apartments, as well as in animal hair.
Ear and scabies are considered dangerous to humans. Their presence on the body and under the skin of a person can cause irritation, rash, fever and inflammation.
Blood-sucking argasids and ixodids are carriers of deadly diseases such as Lyme disease, tick-borne encephalitis, human granulocytic anaplasmosis.
How ticks get on a person
Like spiders, ticks can hide. They are held on the edges of blades of grass and cling to a passing person with their front paws. In predatory and parasitic species, for this purpose, bristles in the form of hooks are located on the front paws, which help to catch and hold on to their prey.
Do ticks see where to run for the victim
Despite the absence of eyes, the tick is well oriented in space using bristles on its paws. Thanks to the developed sensory apparatus, the parasite can find food by sensing changes in temperature, fluctuations in the air, and the approach of other creatures.
With the help of sensors, the insect determines the approach of the prey at a distance of up to 100 meters and at the same time does not run after it, but wait until it itself approaches the hunter's location.
The greatest danger from ticks in nature can be exposed to a person during periods of their activity from May to June and from August to September. The use of protective equipment and protection recommendations will protect yourself and loved ones from many dangerous tick-borne infections.
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