Close up of tan bark with a pale circle in the center where a scale insect was. On top are two small, oval dark mites.
Three panels showing an oval mite specimen under the microscope. Left ot right the first shows the top of the mite with a few hars and a pair of moderately long sword-like setae near the rear. The back also has a network of reticulate cells. The middle panel shows the underside with two pairs of legs near the front and two pairs near the rear. There are two pairs of large setae on the rear, one pair sword-like and the other pair flat and fan-like. The final panle shows the middle plane of the mite showing two balloon-like setae near the head.
Drawing of the genus showing the underside of the mite on the left half and the dorsal side on the right half. It looks just like the mite described in the photo before.
Who are these dark little mites hiding under an armored scale shell?
Didn't take long after slide mounting to find out: no need to run through a dichotomous key, when the figure looks exactly like the #mite! 😆 And what beautiful one at that 😍
#Tarsonemidae: #Daidalotarsonemus
North Carolina, USA