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.

© #StefanFWirth #Berlin 2025

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

Photos
©S.F. Wirth

My #YouTube #article points to my upcoming nature #video, showing interesting #biological #interactions on a common #dandelion inflorescence. A #mite (#Parasitellus sp.) appears to be attacking a #moth (#Pyrausta #despicata), but in reality, this is merely a #mistake by the mite, which is actually looking for a bee, presumably bumblebee, as a #phoretic #host for #dispersal.

©#StefanFWirth Berlin 2025

Reference

YouTube article S. F. Wirth (2025):
http://youtube.com/post/UgkxP4oYFemnF7k6y-nbS89fXNeVq1h3xKh9?si=aJ8MiJJvpfPaYabn

#Photos
©S.F. Wirth

Inornate Pyrausta Moth (Pyrausta inornatalis) on Salvia (possibly S. farinacea) in Norman, Oklahoma, United States on July 13, 2023

Some of the camera settings
I used to make this photo are at: https://www.rsok.com/~jrm/2023Jul19_birds_and_cats/2023jul13_moth_IMG_4685c.html

#pollinator #Pyrausta #Salvia #Nature #nativeplants #wild #Oklahoma #naturephotography #photography

Inornate Pyrausta Moth (Pyrausta inornatalis) on Salvia (possibly S. farinacea) in Norman, Oklahoma, United States on July 3, 2023

Some of the camera settings that I used are at: https://www.rsok.com/~jrm/2023Jul19_birds_and_cats/2023jul03_moth_IMG_4544c.html

#moth #pollinator #Salvia #Pyrausta #Oklahoma #photography #naturephotography