In the paper Krüger & Wirth (2011) we elucidate various biologically interesting phenomena based on the #mite #Sarraceniopus #nipponensis (#Histiostomatidae) that is bound to life within the pitchers of carnivorus #Sarracenia plants (#Ericales).
we have also dealt intensively with the #lifecycle and details of the #prematingbehavior. The attached #SEM photo shows two #males apparently #competing for the #mateguarding privilege with a #female #tritonymph.

© #StefanFWirth Berlin 2023

What is a #mite of the #Histiostomatidae doing in nests of an #antnest? About behavior, dispersal, #phoresy, life strategy. A 2008 study about the life strategy of mite #Histiostoma #bakeri (Histiostomatidae) in nests of the leafcutting ant #Atta #texana.
According to this, the desired location of the mites for mating and reproduction is the detritus chambers of the ant nest.
© #StefanFWirth Berlin 2023

Paper Wirth & Moser (2008), short summary and PDF for download: https://wp.me/p2l6XU-1Mt

I am interested in all aspects of biology, and I also have a great weakness for astronomy and perform pictorial arts.

Here you can see a mite of the genus #Balaustium (Erythraeidae), but my research is on mites of the #Histiostomatidae (Astigmata). Both Acariformes.