What feature limits blood consumption in the adult male I. pacificus?
Answer
The scutum completely covers the entire dorsal side
The adult male tick is anatomically restricted in its ability to feed significantly due to the structure of its dorsal covering. Its hard plate, known as the scutum, covers the entirety of its dorsal surface. This complete plating physically prevents the male from expanding its body cavity to consume large volumes of blood. Consequently, unlike the female, the adult male does not become engorged or swell up after feeding, necessitating very small, multiple feedings or brief opportunities to acquire necessary sustenance.
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