How is the adult female Western Blacklegged Tick, Ixodes pacificus, visually distinguished?
Answer
They exhibit a reddish-orange body contrasting with a black scutum and black legs.
The visual identification of the adult female Western Blacklegged Tick involves specific coloration patterns. The text specifies that adult females are recognizable by a distinct contrast: their body is reddish-orange, while their scutum, which is the upper shield-like plate, is black or dark brown. Furthermore, their legs are also black. This combination differentiates them from the adult males, which are generally darker overall, appearing almost entirely black, or from other tick species. Distinguishing features are crucial, especially when comparing them to the similarly named eastern counterpart.
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