When a tick wants to bite, it starts by gently coursing its chelicerae over the skin of its host (at about 0:25 in the video). Each one ends in a tooth that’s tapered to an especially sharp ...

In spiders, the chelicerae are hollow, poison-injecting fangs, but that’s not at all how tick chelicerae work. Worldwide, there are some 900 species of ticks, ...

In spiders, the chelicerae are hollow, poison-injecting fangs but that’s not at all how tick chelicerae work. Worldwide, there are some 900 species of ticks, about 700 of which are the “hard ...

With the tips of the chelicerae anchored in the skin, flexing them outward causes them to penetrate even deeper. When this occurs, the tick’s hypostome—a razor-sharp, even-more-heavily-barbed ...

TICK’S BITE A close-up view shows the motions of a tick’s mouthparts as it pierces the skin, followed by an animation detailing how the tick establishes a firm hold. Credit: D. Richter et al ...

In spiders, the chelicerae are hollow, poison-injecting fangs, but that’s not at all how tick chelicerae work. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

For ticks, mealtime is an extended affair. ... barbed structures called chelicerae. They then perform a breaststroke maneuver with the chelicerae, spreading them like arms and pulling them back.

With the tips of the chelicerae anchored in the skin, flexing them outward causes them to penetrate even deeper. When this occurs, the tick’s hypostome—a razor-sharp, even-more-heavily-barbed ...

"Yes, they are every bit as monstrous, scary and potentially dangerous as you were afraid they might be. Better to stay safe inside, binging on Netflix with a fat bowl of Cheetos and a 2-liter bottle ...