Mastodawn

Note: while they don't follow the ectoparasite-then-predator life history typical of the much larger group they belong to, these little guys are not strict vegetarians and will also eat dead bugs, like this plant bug nymph. This was just a couple feet away from the group in the previous post.

#ArthroBeauty #DailyMitePic #Mitestodon #bugstodon #arachnids #mites #Acari #Acariformes #Erythraeidae

Show thread

neville park 1d ago

#DailyMiteVid: see, I *told* you there was enough pollen!

A bunch of _Balaustium_ long-legged velvet mites, standing on top of each other to feed on an especially large clump of pollen, only chasing each other off a little bit.

#ArthroBeauty #Mitestodon #bugstodon #arachnids #mites #Acari #Acariformes #Erythraeidae

neville park 2d ago

#DailyMitePic: Comrades, please, no fighting, there's enough pollen for everyone!

#Mitestodon #bugstodon #arachnids #mites #Acari #Acariformes #Erythraeidae

neville park 3d ago

#DailyMitePic: whirligig mites (family Anystidae) are voracious predators…including of each other. Spotted on the rain barrel earlier today.

#Mitestodon #mites #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae

neville park Jun 1

#MiteMonday: The _Balaustium_ will continue until morale improves^W^W Peak Anystid is upon us

#DailyMitePic #Mitestodon #mites #Acari #Acariformes #Erythraeidae

Show thread

neville park May 28

bonus video

#DailyMiteVid #Mitestodon #bugstodon #mites #Acari #Acariformes #Erythraeidae

neville park May 28

#BREAKING: the long-legged velvet mites (family Erythraeidae) are out in force! They're the little red guys seen in large numbers running around on concrete and such, eating pollen, sap, dead bugs, and other plentiful springtime foods.

(Not 100% sure on genus for this particular one, will edit in later if I find out)

#DailyMitePic #Mitestodon #bugstodon #mites #Acari #Acariformes #Erythraeidae