Fig. 2

Ixodes ricinus, microscopic anatomy of fasting, semi-engorged, and fully engorged females. The plate contrasts micrographs of histological cross-sections with μCT-images. a Histological micrograph of a cross-section at the level of the anal opening. b Grey-level inverted μCT-image at same position as in (a). c Histological micrograph of a cross-section at the level of the spiracular plates. d Grey-level inverted μCT-image at same position as in c. e Histological micrograph of a cross-section at the level of the genital opening. f Grey-level inverted μCT-image at same position as in e. Figures a, c, e are from same individual as in Fig. 1b. g Semi-engorged female (previous feeding stage as compared to H), histological micrograph of a cross-section in the posterior region of the opisthosoma, same individual as Fig. 1d. h Semi-engorged tick, histological micrograph of a cross-section in the posterior region of the opisthosoma. i Fully engorged tick, histological micrograph of a cross-section in the posterior region of the opisthosoma. j Grey-level inverted μCT-image at same position as in “i”. Abbreviations: AO, anal opening; AS, anal sac; At, atrium; CF, cuticular folds; DVM, dorso-ventral musculature; EN, endocuticula; EPD, epidermis; EX, exocuticula; GO, genital opening; GP, genital plate; Lmgd, lumen of a midgut diverticulum; MGD, midgut diverticulum; OV, ovary; PC, procuticle; RS, receptaculum seminis; SP; spiracular plate; T, tracheae. Arrowheads in “i” and “j” point to the digestive cells of the midgut epithelium. Figures a–f same scale