Big fully aquatic mites, free swimming and clambering on aquatic vegetation
A water sample was taken from the shore of Srednerogatsky Pond. The air temperature was 14°C (57.2 °F). The sample was stored at room temperature and observed 6 days after collection.
Video: https://youtu.be/CxDTah3Qxnc
ONly one opf the damsels i photographed had mites and there are very many on the underside of the tail of this individual, do they reproduce ON the odonate??? or is each a colonizer based on where this odonate landed?
Either captured at the Santa Fe River with Ray Fisher or at the pond near the UF Entomology and Nematology building. Small specimen is a male.
Tiny red mites swimming around in a vernal pool
In non-moving marsh environment with much submerged vegetative material.
First photo dorsal view
Second photo ventral view
Length ~3 mm
Mite <2 mm preying on a midge
Found dead on path in woods. My photo of the claspers isn't as sharp as I thought it was.
Teneral. Found on dirt road. Could not fly.
A.I. says it's a fly but I think it's a lep.