Mites on the Underside of a Blue Dasher Dragonfly Pachydiplax longipennis
The dragonfly is parasitized by larvae of some species of Arrenurus - a type of water mite. The larval mites hatch in the water, swim and find a larval dragonfly, then sit on it, waiting until the dragonfly molts into an adult - when the mites make their transfer, attach, and begin engorging. When the mites are fully engorged, they drop off the host and back into the water - typically when the host is either mating (over water) or laying eggs in the water. The rest of the active stages of the mite are fully aquatic and are predators of small crustaceans (water fleas, etc.).
Size: 4827px × 3476px
Photo credit: © Phil Degginger / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: arrenurus, blue, bug, commensalism, dasher, dragonflies, dragonfly, ecological, immune, insect, insects, larvae, longipennis, mitemites, mites, mutualism, pachydiplax, parasite, parasites, parasitic, parasitism, parasitized, predation, predator, relationships, system, water
