What does a tick look like? Here's what the bug (and its bites) look like

Olivia Munson, USA TODAY
Updated ·3 min read

When you're enjoying the warm weather and outdoors, the last thing you want to think about is bugs. While some of these creepy crawlers are harmless, others pose serious threats to animals and humans.

There are around 850 tick species in the world and about 90 of them live in the U.S., according to Pest World. Ticks suck blood from the animals, or hosts, they attach onto. Some ticks carry pathogens that cause different diseases, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease.

To stay safe, here is what you need to know about parasitic arachnids, including what ticks look like.

What does a tick look like?

Ticks can vary in appearance depending on the type. There are two groups of ticks: "hard" and "soft" ticks, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health Prevention and Control.

Hard ticks, such as the American dog tick, have hard shells and are often oval. Soft ticks have no outer shell and are larger and more raisin-like in shape.

Most ticks are flat until they consume blood. After draining blood from an animal, ticks will become engorged and their body will swell up.

Adult and nymph ticks will have eight legs, while larvae will have six, according to Terminix.

Ticks also range in color. They can be grayish-white, brown, black, reddish-brown or yellow. Here are some images of different tick species found in the U.S.

Is Lyme disease curable? Here's more you need to know about tick bites and symptoms.

What does a tick bite look like?

Tick bites resemble mosquito bites. As a result, many may not notice they have been bitten by a tick.

Ticks often leave a small, red bump after they detach from their host. If you have a bug bite, make note if it is:

  • Itchy

  • Red

  • Gets puffy or raised

  • Starts to look like a bruise

If you are experiencing any of the above, you may want to consult with your doctor.

If you have been bitten by a tick and begin to get a rash resembling a bull's-eye or target, this can be an early indicator of Lyme disease. The rash will be warm to the touch.

Do ticks fly?

Ticks do not fly since they do not have wings. Ticks also cannot jump.

How ticks find a host is by "questing," according to the CDC. In this position, ticks will hold onto leaves or grass with their third and fourth legs. Then, they will wait until an animal is in the area.

Ticks find hosts by "detecting animals' breath and body odors, or by sensing body heat, moisture, and vibrations," according to the CDC. Once a tick finds its host, it will use its first set of legs to climb onto the animal.

Just Curious for more? We've got you covered

USA TODAY is exploring the questions you and others ask every day. From "Do ladybugs bite?" to "Do stink bugs bite?" to "Who has the highest IQ?", we're striving to find answers to the most common questions you ask every day. Head to our Just Curious section to see what else we can answer for you.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What does a tick look like? Here's how to identify the bug