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What do tick mouthparts look like under magnification?

The capitulum contains palps, cutting chelicerae and the anchoring hypostome, structures that are difficult to judge without magnification.

Reviewed by VuxLore® Knowledge Team For People

What do tick mouthparts look like under magnification?

Short answer

The capitulum contains palps, cutting chelicerae and the anchoring hypostome, structures that are difficult to judge without magnification.

At a glance

A labelled, public-domain CDC illustration of the principal tick mouthpart structures.

Key takeaways

• Visible palps are not the piercing structure

• The hypostome helps anchor a feeding tick

• Do not dig into skin searching for microscopic parts

The feeding apparatus

This diagram shows structures of the capitulum. During removal, grasp the tick as close to the skin as practical and pull steadily according to current health guidance.

Sources and further reading

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: What to Do After a Tick Bite

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: DPDx: Ticks