Pennsylvania leatherwing ( Chauliognathus pensylvanicus ) with mites photo

larose forest photos | all galleries >> INSECTS (INSECTA) (28 Galleries) >> Beetles (Coleoptera) (58 Galleries) >> Soldier Beetles (Family: Cantharidae) > Pennsylvania leatherwing (Chauliognathus pensylvanicus) with mites

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29-AUG-2010	Christine Hanrahan

Pennsylvania leatherwing (Chauliognathus pensylvanicus) with mites

Mites attack many species of insects, sometimes to the point of completely covering the victim. This soldier beetle (Pennsylvania Leatherwing) has about 14 or 15 of these tiny mites on it. Insects cannot survive this kind of parasite load.

Canon PowerShot SX20 IS
1/125s f/5.6 at 5.0mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto

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Doug Cruden		08-Apr-2011 21:06
Eeeewwww........

Colin Storey		08-Apr-2011 19:44
Poor thing, but a great detailed macro. v

nightwings		08-Apr-2011 17:16
Will they attack mosquitos ??? Send some to Louisiana

laine		08-Apr-2011 15:27
Very graphic, Christine...nature works in odd ways at times

Margot W		08-Apr-2011 14:58
Of course the question is do the mites have mites? Poor guy.

Carol Rollins		08-Apr-2011 14:31
Oh, poor thing. Great example of a mite attack. ~

reflectionsofnature		08-Apr-2011 13:12
The prognosis is in: the guy "mite" not live much longer. Poor beetle! What a cruel end for any living thing to be the victim of parasites like this.

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