1. mouthparts and an adhesive (cement) secreted in the saliva.
TICKS & MITES / PARASITES LOCATION OF TICKS IN SKIN
Ticks feed by creating a wound in the dermis into which blood flows. The ticks attach to skin with barbed
mouthparts and an adhesive (cement) secreted in the saliva.
dermis
tick body
palps
blood
pool
cement
epidermis
capillaries (papillary loops)

2. Psoroptic mites (Psoroptes, Chorioptes, Otedectes etc) ON epidermis
TICK, MITE PARASITES LOCATION OF MITES ON OR IN SKIN (1)
Psoroptic mites (Psoroptes, Chorioptes, Otedectes etc)
ON epidermis
epidermis
dermis
Sarcoptic mites (Sarcoptes, Knemidocoptes, Notoedres)
IN epidermis
epidermis
dermis

3. Demodectic mites (Demodex)
TICK, MITE PARASITE LOCATION OF MITES ON OR IN SKIN (2)
hair shaft
epidermis
dermis
Demodectic mites (Demodex)
External to
epidermis, but
within skin
Dermanyssid & trombiculid mites (Dermanyssus,
Trombicula)
epidermis
dermis
External to epidermis,
direct penetration to
capillaries

4. egg larva nymph adult egg (almost entirely on host)
TICKS, MITES PARASITES LIFE CYCLE OF PSOROPTES
egg larva nymph adult egg
(almost entirely on host)
infested flock transported sheep uninfested flock
fomites

5. larva only is parasitic nymph and adult predatory on insects
TICK, MITE PARASITES LIFE CYCLE OF TROMBICULA
egg larva nymph adult
larva only is parasitic nymph and adult predatory
on insects

6. egg larva Ist nymph 2nd nymph adult
TICK, MITE PARASITES LIFE CYCLE OF DERMANYSSUS
egg larva Ist nymph 2nd nymph adult
all stages feed
on birds