#dailymitepic — Public Fediverse posts

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

Another vignette from Peak Anystid: any mite with a desirable morsel risks moochers trying to steal it for themselves. These two pictures were taken about 5 minutes apart—note how the first mite turns greenish from eating the bug. (1/2)

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

In other news, we have reached Peak Anystid, that short but precious time when it seems like every leaf has a plump little whirligig mite running around on it. They are avid predators and eating is practically the only time they stay still. Here are several from the garden.

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

Happy #ThripsThursday! To everyone except this thrips on a fallen peony petal who was promptly eaten by a whirligig mite. I 🧡 my whirligig mites.

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

For #MiteMonday: mites eating things.

1. Long-legged velvet mites (family Erythraeidae, probably _Balaustium_) eating a midge
2. A whirligig mite (family Anystidae) eating a globular springtail
3. A snout mite (family Bdellidae) eating a barklouse

#DailyMitePic #Mitestodon #arachnids #mites #Acariformes #Prostigmata #Erythraeidae #Anystidae #Bdellidae

Belated #MiteMonday: it's the time of year I start carrying a little water dropper bottle for the whirligig mites. I've found it's a reliable way to get them to stay still for photos. 💧

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

Little red mites of spring!

- A larval sidewalk mite (_Balaustium_) eating pollen
- A young whirligig mite (family Anystidae) eating clover mite eggs (the little reddish balls)
- Sumo mites (_Allothrombium_) wrestling
- and lastly, a clover mite (_Bryobia_), which isn't really that red when full grown but which all of the other mites are frequently misidentified as. They won't be out much longer, they go dormant in the hot months.

#DailyMitePic #Mitestodon #arachnids #mites #Acari #Acariformes #Prostigmata #Erythraeidae #Anystidae #Trombidiidae #Tetranychidae #Bryobiinae

#Arachtober 6: Here's an anystid. They seem to experience a burst of population growth in the fall, not nearly as much as Peak Anystid around June but still noticeable.

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

Peak Anystid is over in my building's garden, but down by the lake yesterday I found plenty of them on burdock plants infested with aphids, which they prey on. Fast and nimble, they were able to steer clear of the feisty _Myrmica rubra_ farming the aphids.

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

#MiteMonday: quartet of whirligig mites eating midges on milkweed down by the lake. Tiny midges proliferate there, and the mites take full advantage. (Yes, I'm getting the most out of Peak Anystid while it lasts!)

#DailyMitePic #Mitestodon #arachnids #mites #Acari #Anystidae #macro

Going out in the middle of the day yesterday was a mistake but I did get to see three whirligig mites fighting over a midge. Real _The Good, the Bad and the Ugly_ moment.

#Mitestodon #DailyMitePic #arachnids #mites #MiteBehaviour #Acari #Anystidae

#MiteMonday: an oddly colourless whirligig mite (family Anystidae) feeds on a red _Uroleucon_ aphid. Hmmm… :thonking:

#DailyMitePic #Mitestodon #arachnids #mites #Acari #Anystidae #aphids #Aphididae

While watching whirligig mites (family Anystidae) in the garden I actually witnessed two anystids catching prey, something I'd never seen before!

The first one has caught a little yellow globular springtail (family Bourletiellidae). It consumed it in a few seconds and then raced off again. The second one caught some kind of tiny midge, I think. It retreated with its prize to the summit of a drop of water, mindful of the several other anystids on the same leaf, and fed on it for some time.

I feel so honoured to have seen it!

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

This morning I found a whirligig mite (family Anystidae) feeding on an aphid. Then a second, slightly smaller mite came by and also started trying to feed on it, and a tug-of-war ensued. And then I tapped the "switch camera" button instead of the "take photo" button because they're way too close to each other.

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

We're approaching Peak Anystid, with multiple plump, predatory little whirligig mites (family Anystidae) running frantically and erratically over every leaf. Here's just a few from one of the building's tiny little milkweed patches.

#DailyMitePic #Mitestodon #arachnids #mites #Acari #Anystidae #MiteBehaviour

#Arachtober 27: The trunk of a regal yellow tree (linden or something similar?) was busy with mites. I found a tiny cobweb spider feeding on a whirligig mite, and a red velvet mite feeding on prey in another cobweb spider's web!

#DailySpiderPic #DailyMitePic #Mitestodon #MiteBehaviour #arachnids #spiders #mites #Acari #Anystidae #Trombidiidae #Araneae #Theridiidae

#Arachtober 17: it's been a nerve-wracking day for me, here's a whirligig mite cleaning its leg. I posted a video a while back, but also got some still photos.

#DailyMitePic #Mitestodon #arachnids #mites #Acari #Anystidae #macro

#Arachtober 13 (it's still the 13th somewhere!): a fast-moving, red running crab spider (family Philodromidae) eating an equally fast-moving, red whirligig mite (family Anystidae)! From back in July, seen on the Park Dr Reservation Trail, southwest of the Evergreen Brick Works.

Possibly _Philodromus rufus_? I've only identified a _Philodromus_ to species like, once.

#DailySpiderPic #DailyMitePic #Mitestodon #arachnids #spiders #mites #Araneae #Philodromidae #Acari #Anystidae

#Arachtober 11: #Mosstodon × #Mitestodon. Didn't expect to find much on the City Hall green roof, but got a surprise when I turned over a loose clump of moss!

#DailyMitePic #arachnids #mites #Acari #Anystidae #macro