An unfed bush tick nymph is the size of a pencil point, and a fully fed nymph the size of a match head. The body is oval, dark brown to dark blue grey all over. The Bush Tick larva is microscopic in size, proportionally changing shape from unfed to fully fed in the same way as the nymph. Its body is brown to dark blue grey with a short snout, wider at the face, generally looking much like the nymph. Nymphs are seen in late autumn and winter.
Adults are the only stage generally seen on cattle and then only in very small numbers.
The unfed adult is the size of a match head. A fully fed female, the size of a pea. Its body is pear shaped to oval, yellow grey to light grey in colour, with black bands on the sides. The legs are in a V shape line from the snout down the sides of the body. The first and last pair of legs are brown, the others pale.