Nancy Piatczyc commented on Imaging Ioxides Scapularis and we thought her words and images were prescient and compelling. You will enjoy reading her comments and seeing more images. “Both images in the previous post are of ticks found here in Williamstown. Regarding the bottom image that looks like a flower we are guessing it shows the spiracles that the tick uses for respiration. There is one on either side of the bottom of the tick. Recently, a tick friend of mine brought in a live tick. It was from somewhere in Berkshire County, and was crawling up her arm, but not attached. So she brought it in still alive and … Continue reading
Tag Archives: electron microscope
Imaging Ixodes Scapularis
Williams College Biology Professor, Hank Art, sent us these fine electron microscopic photographs of a deer tick taken by Nancy Piatczyc, Williams’ electron micrcroscope technician. Ticks, in the Northeast, are dreaded carriers of Lyme Disease, Babesiosis and Ehrlichiosis. The beauty and complexity of this troublesome critter is depicted well here. Ioxides’ fearful majesty calls to mind William Blake’s poem. The Tyger Tyger! Tyger! burning bright In the forests of the night, What immortal hand or eye Dare frame thy fearful symmetry? Nancy Piatczyc sent us a comment on this post as well as some dramatic additional images: Imaging Ixodes II. Pleasant dreams!