Study on cheliceral sensilla of the brown dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille, 1806) (Acari: Ixodidae) involved in taste perception of phagostimulants

► The morphology of chelicera of Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks was assessed by scanning electron microscopy. ► A pit sensilla was found in the inner digit. ► This sensilla was the target to electrophysiological assays. ► It is involved in taste perception. ► It was sensitive to chemicals related to mammal blood.