Thursday, August 18, 2011

Odonata Freeloaders

Dragonfly with mites(c) John Ashley
Red aquatic mites on the thorax of a dragonfly.


As summer winds down, we're seeing more and more adult dragonflies (order Odonata). And a good number of them are carrying various numbers of freeloading hitchhikers - aquatic mites. The parasitic mites will drop off when the dragonfly lays its eggs in water.

Dragonfly with mites(c) John Ashley
Round, red mites on the thorax (many) and abdomen (two) of a different dragonfly.