Tick leg. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a Haller's organ (centre) on the front leg of a tick (Ixodes sp.). This parasite attaches to

---

Tick leg. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a Haller's organ (centre) on the front leg of a tick (Ixodes sp.). This parasite attaches to warm-blooded hosts and feeds on their blood. Each of the first pair of legs possesses a special sensory pit known as the Haller's organ, which the tick uses to smell potential victims. Once the host has been located, the tick attaches to its skin using its claws and cushion-shaped suction pads on its feet. Magnification: x470 when printed 10 centimetres wide.

---

Size: 4530px × 3898px
Photo credit: © EYE OF SCIENCE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: anatomical, anatomy, animal, arachnid, arachnids, arachnology, arthropod, arthropods, biological, biology, blood, bloodsucker, chemoreceptor, chemoreceptors, colored, coloured, disease, electron, entomology, false-colored, false-coloured, fauna, feeder, hairs, hairy, haller, hallerss, invertebrate, invertebrates, ixodoidea, leg, legs, locating, micrograph, nature, organ, pit, scanning, sem, sense, sensory, smell, sucking, tick, transmission, transmitter, vector, wildlife, zoological, zoology