If ticks have hard exoskeletons, how do their bodies expand so much when they consume blood?

Question

If ticks have hard exoskeletons, how do their bodies expand so much when they consume blood?

In: 21

Answer 1

ELI5: How do ticks expand so much despite having an exoskeleton?
byu/frenchierfry inexplainlikeimfive

This question was asked before, and the answers seem good. Maybe check here 🙂

Answer 2

Exoskeletons of insects are made of chitin, the same stuff that makes up your hair and fingernails, both of which are flexible. You hair is still much more flexible than your nails though. It all.deoends on the thickness and how the chitin molecules are arranged to get different properties.