Mastodawn

Years ago, with my then-host in the USA, John C. Moser, I described the #myrmecophilous #phoretic #mite #Histiostoma #blomquisti as a new #species (S.F.Wirth & J.C.Moser, 2010).
In a recent #sciencecomm. #article, I reconstructed its #biology, being found on active #queens of ant #Solenopsis #invicta, from my current perspective (S.F.Wirth,2026).
©#StefanFWirth 2026

Please support me with a coffee https://ko-fi.com/sfwirth

Ref
https://doi.org/10.1051/acarologia/20101979

https://biologe.wordpress.com/2026/03/09/diversity-of-ant-research-about-the-phoretic-mite-histiostoma-blomquisti-on-solenopsis-invicta-queens-and-about-ant-queens-producing-exclusively-other-ant-queens-in-the-japanese-species-temnothorax-k/

#Photos
©S F.Wirth

Stefan F. Wirth Feb 11

RE: https://mastodon.scot/@kim_harding/115984446339509467

#Sarcoptes #scabiei var. hominis (#Astigmata, Acariformes) is a skin-#parasitic #mite that feeds on human #epidermal cells. Infection typically occurs via adult, mated #females.The mite has #subspecies found on both #domestic and #wild #animals. The #evolutionary direction was via #humanancestors to humans and from there #spreading first to domestic animals and then to wild animals (see ref).
© #StefanFWirth 2026

Reference
R. W. Currier er al. (2012): https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06364.x

John

Dec 28

Deadly #varroa #mite threatens half of Canberra’s #beehives.

The varroa mite, is expected to wipe out half of the #ACT's 6,000 #bee hives within two years, putting local #fruit & #vegetable #crops at #risk.

Varroa mites are 1 to 2 millimetre-long parasites that attach to honey bees, eventually killing the bees and their colonies.

The ACT's first infestation was found in a hive in Kowen in April this year. #auspol #apiarist #BeeKeepers

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-29/act-varroa-mite-wipe-out-half-bees-two-years/106148658

Deadly varroa mite threatens half of Canberra’s beehives

A fast-spreading parasite is expected to devastate local bee colonies over the next two years, affecting commercial and backyard crops.

ABC News

LIGHTCAMACT Dec 8

MINIATURE WORLD

#Fly, #Insect, #Bug, #Macro, #Metallic, #Iridescent, #Green, #Leaf, #Nature, #Wildlife, #Ecology, #CloseUp, #Detail, #Microscopic, #Entomology, #Invertebrate, #Animal, #Exotic, #Wild, #Foliage, #Texture, #Pattern, #Vibrant, #Contrast, #Summer, #Outdoor, #Garden, #Tiny, #Small, #Life, #Ecosystem, #Zoology, #Biology, #Scientific, #Natural, #Spring, #Fresh, #Organic, #Plant, #Veins, #Wing, #Body, #Head, #Fauna, #Arthropod, #JewelBug, #Mite, #Micro, #Photo, #Vertical, #Sharp, #Focus, #Botanical, #GardenLife, #Environment, #Growth, #Hairy, #Legs, #Surface

cohan Nov 23

In summer when I was looking for galls to photograph for National Gall Week, I suspected that many were high above in the trees. Come autumn some of the leafy sort began drifting to ground...the first I noticed literally fell into my lap as I was sitting for a coffee break while woodcutting! That one is yet to come, this one came along the next day (mid October). Possibly Poplar Gall Mite Phyllocoptes populi, on a leaf of Populus balsamifera Balsam
Poplar
#Alberta #insects #Gall #Mite #nature

Frank Ashwood Nov 6

It's week 3 of fatherhood, and today I was granted special dispensation from shopping, housework, nappies and feeding, to do a brief spot of macrophotography in the sunshine, brilliant!

The highlight was this incredible Oribatid mite, sporting long defensive spines (Neotrichozetes spinulosa). I've nicknamed it the Hellraiser mite, which seems to be catching on - feel free to use it too!

#Macrophotography #SoilBiodiversity #SoilEcology #Acari #Entomology #Nature #NaturePhotography #Acarology #Mite

Stefan F. Wirth Oct 29

In my new YouTube #video, I tell the #hypothetical story of a #Histiostomatidae #mite that lived its #lifehistory in the #dung heap of the #dinosaur #Edmontosaurus #annectens during the Late #Cretaceous. It developed #fungivorously within the dung and, when conditions deteriorated, was #transported by #flies to a new habitat (phoresis). All images and footage created with #AI assistance, except photos of free-living mites.
© #StefanFWirth 2025

Video
https://youtu.be/gzv-TZmU5G4?si=zrTLfrC96k3KEGqr

John Dal Oct 6

This little beasty popped out from between the gills of a 'shroom I was trying to photo. A Moss Mite I'm told , something like Damaeus onustus.
#Arachnid #mite #Invertebrate #Nature #Macro

Stefan F. Wirth Sep 29

Why a #mite of the #Parasitidae (#Mesostigmata), apparently genus #Parasitellus, seemingly attacks moth #Pyrausta #despicata (Crambidae). Parasitellus develops in #bumblebee #nests and uses them for dispersal (#phoresy) to other nests, thus they leave their hosts on blossoms and wait for new hosts to be carried to new nests. The moth was detected by the mite as a #nonsuitable #phoretic #host.

Visit my new YouTube Video:
https://youtu.be/gRAT7CIKWTk?si=hb2LC19Fmf1URVl6

scy Sep 23

Hey Fedi, I need your help identifying these tiny critters. What are they? And how do I get rid of them, because I, uh, kinda got an infestation in my van's bathroom.

Some kind of #mite?

Photo with finger for scale, and videos made with a cheap USB microscope.

Feel free to suggest additional hashtags to help with identification.

#FediHelp #mites #acarology #species #identification #pests