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Dragonflies and Damselfliesmites?
Hello Bugman,
I just came over your site on the internet. I like taking macro shots of insect and today I have taken an interesting one. There are were some red dots on the wing of a dragonfly. I think maybe they can be some sort of insects or mites. I live in Hungary, Europe I hope you can help me anyway…
Best regards.
Ambruzs Péter
Dear Ambruzs Péter,
Your photo is beautiful. We suspect you have photographed the Locust Mite, Eutrombidium rostratum. Essig writes that it : “is the common locust mite of the United States and Europe. It is a large bright red species. … They are often taken on the body and wings of grasshoppers, crickets, katydids, and mantids, and do not attack humans.” Even if it is not that exact species, you have most definitely photographed mites hitching a ride on your dragonfly.
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Comments 1
I believe “locust mites” are also known as “velvet mites” which are quite large and terrestrial. These are water mites. They infest odonate nymphs, especially zygopterans, and then transfer to adults during emergence. Much smaller than the locust mites.
Posted 22 Jan 2011 at 3:39 pm ¶Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. You can also subscribe without commenting.
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