garapata
English: Translation
A tick; a small blood-feeding arachnid that crawls onto a person or animal, attaches itself firmly to the skin, and remains there while feeding. Commonly found on dogs, livestock, and other animals, especially in the fur, around the ears, between the toes, or on other protected parts of the body. A feeding **garapata** may become noticeably swollen as its body fills with blood.
Notes
garapata
n.
Semantic note
A garapata does not jump. It crawls, clings to the host, and embeds its mouthparts in the skin.
This distinguishes it from paltik, the small dark jumping parasite associated with dry, dusty ground and intensely itchy bites, especially around the feet and lower legs.
Compare
- paltik — small dark flea-like parasite that jumps from dry, dusty ground and causes intensely itchy bites; also found in dogs’ fur.
- toma — traditionally, a body- or pubic-hair louse; sometimes broadly compared with a tick-like parasite.
- koto — adult human head louse.
Usage note
In ordinary speech, garapata may be used broadly for ticks found on domestic animals. Care should be taken not to apply it to every small blood-feeding parasite, since fleas, lice, and ticks differ in appearance and behavior.
Recommended concise gloss
tick; a crawling blood-feeding parasite that attaches firmly to the skin of humans or animals, especially dogs and livestock
Etymology
Borrowed from Spanish garrapata “tick.”