Image of American Levi tick

Description:

Under a magnification of 97X, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicted a dorsal view of an unidentified male Dermacentor sp. tick found upon a cat in the suburbs of Decatur, Georgia, which measured approximately 3.5mm from its gnathosoma (seen here) (i.e., capitulum), which is where its mouthparts are located, to the distal abdominal margin (PHIL 9961). Note in PHIL 9959 and 9960, that the entire dorsum of this tick’s abdomen is covered by its tough scutum, or shield, categorizing it as a male. In female Ixodid-species ticks, the scutum only partially covers the dorsal abdomen. Seen clearly in this image are the tick’s pedipalps between which is located its skin-piercing hypostome and chelicerae. Note PHIL 9963 and 9964 for two additional views of this region under successively greater magnification.
Created: 2006