#anystidae — Public Fediverse posts

#MiteMonday: a whirligig mite (family Anystidae) feeding on a long-legged velvet mite (family Erythraeidae, compare to _Balaustium_). Given how plentiful _Balaustium_ are, coinciding with peak anystid, this must be going on all the time, but I rarely see it.

#Mitestodon #mites #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae #Erythraeidae

#MiteMonday: a whirligig mite (family Anystidae) feeding on a long-legged velvet mite (family Erythraeidae, compare to _Balaustium_). Given how plentiful _Balaustium_ are, coinciding with peak anystid, this must be going on all the time, but I rarely see it.

#Mitestodon #mites #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae #Erythraeidae

#MiteMonday: a whirligig mite (family Anystidae) feeding on a long-legged velvet mite (family Erythraeidae, compare to _Balaustium_). Given how plentiful _Balaustium_ are, coinciding with peak anystid, this must be going on all the time, but I rarely see it.

#Mitestodon #mites #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae #Erythraeidae

#MiteMonday: a whirligig mite (family Anystidae) feeding on a long-legged velvet mite (family Erythraeidae, compare to _Balaustium_). Given how plentiful _Balaustium_ are, coinciding with peak anystid, this must be going on all the time, but I rarely see it.

#Mitestodon #mites #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae #Erythraeidae

Just as interesting to me was the behaviour of the mite. It kept running around the same square inch or so. (Normally they run around a much larger area and when they run around in a small area it's just a turn or two in a small burst of energy, in the manner of one of those hyperactive dogs so energetic they can't sit still for long.) It really did seem as if it were *looking for the midge*!

I felt so bad for it I smushed a plant bug nymph (family Miridae) and dropped it by the mite, who immediately took it. (2/2)

#Mitestodon #mites #MiteBehaviour #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae #Hemiptera #Heteroptera #Miridae

Just as interesting to me was the behaviour of the mite. It kept running around the same square inch or so. (Normally they run around a much larger area and when they run around in a small area it's just a turn or two in a small burst of energy, in the manner of one of those hyperactive dogs so energetic they can't sit still for long.) It really did seem as if it were *looking for the midge*!

I felt so bad for it I smushed a plant bug nymph (family Miridae) and dropped it by the mite, who immediately took it. (2/2)

#Mitestodon #mites #MiteBehaviour #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae #Hemiptera #Heteroptera #Miridae

Just as interesting to me was the behaviour of the mite. It kept running around the same square inch or so. (Normally they run around a much larger area and when they run around in a small area it's just a turn or two in a small burst of energy, in the manner of one of those hyperactive dogs so energetic they can't sit still for long.) It really did seem as if it were *looking for the midge*!

I felt so bad for it I smushed a plant bug nymph (family Miridae) and dropped it by the mite, who immediately took it. (2/2)

#Mitestodon #mites #MiteBehaviour #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae #Hemiptera #Heteroptera #Miridae

Just as interesting to me was the behaviour of the mite. It kept running around the same square inch or so. (Normally they run around a much larger area and when they run around in a small area it's just a turn or two in a small burst of energy, in the manner of one of those hyperactive dogs so energetic they can't sit still for long.) It really did seem as if it were *looking for the midge*!

I felt so bad for it I smushed a plant bug nymph (family Miridae) and dropped it by the mite, who immediately took it. (2/2)

#Mitestodon #mites #MiteBehaviour #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae #Hemiptera #Heteroptera #Miridae

#DailyMitePic × #DailySpiderPic: I was taking a photo of a whirligig mite (family Anystidae) eating a tiny midge when I saw a zebra jumping spider (_Salticus scenicus_) sneakily approaching. It pounced and seized the midge for itself! (1/2)

#Mitestodon #arachnids #mites #spiders #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae #Araneae #Salticidae

#DailyMitePic × #DailySpiderPic: I was taking a photo of a whirligig mite (family Anystidae) eating a tiny midge when I saw a zebra jumping spider (_Salticus scenicus_) sneakily approaching. It pounced and seized the midge for itself! (1/2)

#Mitestodon #arachnids #mites #spiders #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae #Araneae #Salticidae

#DailyMitePic × #DailySpiderPic: I was taking a photo of a whirligig mite (family Anystidae) eating a tiny midge when I saw a zebra jumping spider (_Salticus scenicus_) sneakily approaching. It pounced and seized the midge for itself! (1/2)

#Mitestodon #arachnids #mites #spiders #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae #Araneae #Salticidae

#DailyMitePic × #DailySpiderPic: I was taking a photo of a whirligig mite (family Anystidae) eating a tiny midge when I saw a zebra jumping spider (_Salticus scenicus_) sneakily approaching. It pounced and seized the midge for itself! (1/2)

#Mitestodon #arachnids #mites #spiders #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae #Araneae #Salticidae

Forgot to do mites yesterday oh well. Whirligig mites, food, etc., you know the drill.

- aphid
- ???
- plant bug
- fly

#DailyMitePic #Mitestodon #bugstodon #mites #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae

Today's whirligig mite (family Anystidae) menu:

- a plant bug nymph (family Miridae)
- another whirligig mite, or an old exoskeleton maybe?
- a thrips
-a small midge-like fly of some sort

Out of sheer curiosity I captured about half a dozen decently sized whirligig mites and put them on the brown-eyed Susan (_Rudbeckia triloba_) plants which are currently covered in large black aphids. (They do not seem to appreciably harm the plants, which will only mature and bloom much later in the year.) I am not sure if they'll even stay on the plant given how erratically they run around, nor if they'll go for the aphids.

#DailyMitePic #Mitestodon #bugstodon #mites #arachnids #insects #thrips #flies #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae #Hemiptera #Heteroptera #Miridae #Thysanoptera #Diptera

Today's whirligig mite (family Anystidae) menu:

- a plant bug nymph (family Miridae)
- another whirligig mite, or an old exoskeleton maybe?
- a thrips
-a small midge-like fly of some sort

Out of sheer curiosity I captured about half a dozen decently sized whirligig mites and put them on the brown-eyed Susan (_Rudbeckia triloba_) plants which are currently covered in large black aphids. (They do not seem to appreciably harm the plants, which will only mature and bloom much later in the year.) I am not sure if they'll even stay on the plant given how erratically they run around, nor if they'll go for the aphids.

#DailyMitePic #Mitestodon #bugstodon #mites #arachnids #insects #thrips #flies #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae #Hemiptera #Heteroptera #Miridae #Thysanoptera #Diptera

Today's whirligig mite (family Anystidae) menu:

- a plant bug nymph (family Miridae)
- another whirligig mite, or an old exoskeleton maybe?
- a thrips
-a small midge-like fly of some sort

Out of sheer curiosity I captured about half a dozen decently sized whirligig mites and put them on the brown-eyed Susan (_Rudbeckia triloba_) plants which are currently covered in large black aphids. (They do not seem to appreciably harm the plants, which will only mature and bloom much later in the year.) I am not sure if they'll even stay on the plant given how erratically they run around, nor if they'll go for the aphids.

#DailyMitePic #Mitestodon #bugstodon #mites #arachnids #insects #thrips #flies #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae #Hemiptera #Heteroptera #Miridae #Thysanoptera #Diptera

Today's whirligig mite (family Anystidae) menu:

- a plant bug nymph (family Miridae)
- another whirligig mite, or an old exoskeleton maybe?
- a thrips
-a small midge-like fly of some sort

Out of sheer curiosity I captured about half a dozen decently sized whirligig mites and put them on the brown-eyed Susan (_Rudbeckia triloba_) plants which are currently covered in large black aphids. (They do not seem to appreciably harm the plants, which will only mature and bloom much later in the year.) I am not sure if they'll even stay on the plant given how erratically they run around, nor if they'll go for the aphids.

#DailyMitePic #Mitestodon #bugstodon #mites #arachnids #insects #thrips #flies #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae #Hemiptera #Heteroptera #Miridae #Thysanoptera #Diptera

Has Science Gone Too Far????

Slightly inspired by @thebiologistisn's blue bean project, I experimented with adding food colouring to the little eyedropper bottle of water I carry around during Peak Anystid. (Putting down a drop of water can make them stop to drink, an easy way to get these hyperactive mites to hold still for photos.) It was fun seeing the mites turn slightly blue, but I changed it back to plain water because I didn't want to leave unsightly dried-up blue spots all over the plants and street furniture and whatnot.

#DailyMitePic #Mitestodon #arachnids #mites #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae

On the menu today for the whirligig mites:

- aphid?
- big plant bug
- little plant bug
- sidewalk mite

#DailyMitePic #Mitestodon #bugstodon #arachnids #mites #insects #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae #Erythraeidae #Hemiptera #Miridae #Aphididae

On the menu today for the whirligig mites:

- aphid?
- big plant bug
- little plant bug
- sidewalk mite

#DailyMitePic #Mitestodon #bugstodon #arachnids #mites #insects #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae #Erythraeidae #Hemiptera #Miridae #Aphididae

On the menu today for the whirligig mites:

- aphid?
- big plant bug
- little plant bug
- sidewalk mite

#DailyMitePic #Mitestodon #bugstodon #arachnids #mites #insects #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae #Erythraeidae #Hemiptera #Miridae #Aphididae

On the menu today for the whirligig mites:

- aphid?
- big plant bug
- little plant bug
- sidewalk mite

#DailyMitePic #Mitestodon #bugstodon #arachnids #mites #insects #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae #Erythraeidae #Hemiptera #Miridae #Aphididae

Today's whirligig mites are eating:
- small fly (midge?)
- plant bug nymphs
- another whirligig mite

#DailyMitePic #Mitestodon #bugstodon #arachnids #mites #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae

#MiteMonday × #Mosstodon × #LichenSubscribe: a whirligig mite (family Anystidae) on a tree trunk after rain. I was half hoping to find snout mites (family Bdellidae), but this is fine too.

#Mitestodon #mites #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae

#MiteMonday × #Mosstodon × #LichenSubscribe: a whirligig mite (family Anystidae) on a tree trunk after rain. I was half hoping to find snout mites (family Bdellidae), but this is fine too.

#Mitestodon #mites #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae

#MiteMonday × #Mosstodon × #LichenSubscribe: a whirligig mite (family Anystidae) on a tree trunk after rain. I was half hoping to find snout mites (family Bdellidae), but this is fine too.

#Mitestodon #mites #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae

#MiteMonday × #Mosstodon × #LichenSubscribe: a whirligig mite (family Anystidae) on a tree trunk after rain. I was half hoping to find snout mites (family Bdellidae), but this is fine too.

#Mitestodon #mites #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae

On today's whirligig mite menu: aphid, plant bug nymph.

#DailyMitePic #Mitestodon #mites #bugstodon #insects #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae #Hemiptera #Heteroptera #Miridae #Aphididae

On today's whirligig mite menu: aphid, plant bug nymph.

#DailyMitePic #Mitestodon #mites #bugstodon #insects #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae #Hemiptera #Heteroptera #Miridae #Aphididae

On today's whirligig mite menu: aphid, plant bug nymph.

#DailyMitePic #Mitestodon #mites #bugstodon #insects #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae #Hemiptera #Heteroptera #Miridae #Aphididae

On today's whirligig mite menu: aphid, plant bug nymph.

#DailyMitePic #Mitestodon #mites #bugstodon #insects #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae #Hemiptera #Heteroptera #Miridae #Aphididae

The anystids in the garden were largely eating thrips today, it seems.

#DailyMitePic #Mitestodon #bugstodon #arachnids #mites #insects #thrips #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae #Thysanoptera

The anystids in the garden were largely eating thrips today, it seems.

#DailyMitePic #Mitestodon #bugstodon #arachnids #mites #insects #thrips #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae #Thysanoptera

The anystids in the garden were largely eating thrips today, it seems.

#DailyMitePic #Mitestodon #bugstodon #arachnids #mites #insects #thrips #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae #Thysanoptera

The anystids in the garden were largely eating thrips today, it seems.

#DailyMitePic #Mitestodon #bugstodon #arachnids #mites #insects #thrips #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae #Thysanoptera

#MiteMonday: PEAK ANYSTID HAS BEGUN. This whirligig mite (family Anystidae) has captured a plant bug nymph (family Miridae). It had to jealously guard its catch as the other mites racing around this park bench kept trying to steal it.

#bugstodon #Mitestodon #arachnids #mites #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae

#MiteMonday: PEAK ANYSTID HAS BEGUN. This whirligig mite (family Anystidae) has captured a plant bug nymph (family Miridae). It had to jealously guard its catch as the other mites racing around this park bench kept trying to steal it.

#bugstodon #Mitestodon #arachnids #mites #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae

#MiteMonday: PEAK ANYSTID HAS BEGUN. This whirligig mite (family Anystidae) has captured a plant bug nymph (family Miridae). It had to jealously guard its catch as the other mites racing around this park bench kept trying to steal it.

#bugstodon #Mitestodon #arachnids #mites #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae

#MiteMonday: PEAK ANYSTID HAS BEGUN. This whirligig mite (family Anystidae) has captured a plant bug nymph (family Miridae). It had to jealously guard its catch as the other mites racing around this park bench kept trying to steal it.

#bugstodon #Mitestodon #arachnids #mites #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae

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

#Mitestodon #mites #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae

Still the depths of winter here. I have been having dreams about bugs. I recently had a dream about finding plump whirligig mites everywhere: some their usual orange-red, others greenish because they had just eaten something green…I miss the mites.

Here are some whirligig mites I found a couple of years ago on a rock down by the lake, fighting over a dead midge. #iNaturalist observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/225382565 :inaturalist:

#MiteMonday #Mitestodon #arachnids #mites #Acariformes #Anystidae

Still the depths of winter here. I have been having dreams about bugs. I recently had a dream about finding plump whirligig mites everywhere: some their usual orange-red, others greenish because they had just eaten something green…I miss the mites.

Here are some whirligig mites I found a couple of years ago on a rock down by the lake, fighting over a dead midge. #iNaturalist observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/225382565 :inaturalist:

#MiteMonday #Mitestodon #arachnids #mites #Acariformes #Anystidae

Still the depths of winter here. I have been having dreams about bugs. I recently had a dream about finding plump whirligig mites everywhere: some their usual orange-red, others greenish because they had just eaten something green…I miss the mites.

Here are some whirligig mites I found a couple of years ago on a rock down by the lake, fighting over a dead midge. #iNaturalist observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/225382565 :inaturalist:

#MiteMonday #Mitestodon #arachnids #mites #Acariformes #Anystidae

Still the depths of winter here. I have been having dreams about bugs. I recently had a dream about finding plump whirligig mites everywhere: some their usual orange-red, others greenish because they had just eaten something green…I miss the mites.

Here are some whirligig mites I found a couple of years ago on a rock down by the lake, fighting over a dead midge. #iNaturalist observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/225382565 :inaturalist:

#MiteMonday #Mitestodon #arachnids #mites #Acariformes #Anystidae

Still the depths of winter here. I have been having dreams about bugs. I recently had a dream about finding plump whirligig mites everywhere: some their usual orange-red, others greenish because they had just eaten something green…I miss the mites.

Here are some whirligig mites I found a couple of years ago on a rock down by the lake, fighting over a dead midge. #iNaturalist observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/225382565 :inaturalist:

#MiteMonday #Mitestodon #arachnids #mites #Acariformes #Anystidae

It's another #Arachtober #MiteMonday! Here's a whirligig mite (family Anystidae) cleaning its feet. Warning: handheld video! I was able to stabilize it a bit but the camera still moves around.

#ArthroBeauty #DailyMiteVid #Mitestodon #mites #Acari #Acariformes #Prostigmata #Anystidae

It's another #Arachtober #MiteMonday! Here's a whirligig mite (family Anystidae) cleaning its feet. Warning: handheld video! I was able to stabilize it a bit but the camera still moves around.

#ArthroBeauty #DailyMiteVid #Mitestodon #mites #Acari #Acariformes #Prostigmata #Anystidae

#Arachtober 2: anystid renaissance! Commonly called whirligig mites for their constant frantic and erratic running, these large (~1 mm*) predatory mites in the family Anystidae have a population boom in early to mid-June and seem to increase in numbers again in autumn, at least around here. They eat aphids, small midges, each other, etc. This one seems to be eating some kind of barklouse (Psocodea)?

* Given that many mites are microscopic, any mite one can clearly see with the naked eye counts as "large".

#ArthroBeauty #LichenSubscribe #arachnids #mites #Acari #Acariformes #Prostigmata #Anystidae

#Arachtober 2: anystid renaissance! Commonly called whirligig mites for their constant frantic and erratic running, these large (~1 mm*) predatory mites in the family Anystidae have a population boom in early to mid-June and seem to increase in numbers again in autumn, at least around here. They eat aphids, small midges, each other, etc. This one seems to be eating some kind of barklouse (Psocodea)?

* Given that many mites are microscopic, any mite one can clearly see with the naked eye counts as "large".

#ArthroBeauty #LichenSubscribe #arachnids #mites #Acari #Acariformes #Prostigmata #Anystidae

Happy post-postscript: today I learned by very carefully pulling the floret petals apart, I could easily free most mites.

Pic 1: whirligig mites stuck on milkweed, circled in magenta.

Pic 2: a rescued whirligig mite drinking on a tissue I put a bit of water on.

#DailyMitePic #Mitestodon #mites #Acari #Acariformes #Anystidae #milkweed