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|  » Stats |
Members: 50,157
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Top Poster: glsammy (15,069)
| | Welcome to our newest member, Ye Olde Justin | |  | 
11-06-2011, 12:55 PM
|  | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Near the Brownwich and Chilling cliffs
Posts: 981
| | | Mites on bumblebees and other hitch-hikers
Normally mites on bumblebees look elliptical to me (as per the one near the bee's head), so looking at these today (on B.vestalis , maybe?) I googled the lifecycle of bee mites to see what they look like at the larval stage, and only found smaller versions of adults - so I'm wondering if there are diffferent kinds of mites, different larval stages, different hitch-hikers, or...? Help appreciated!    |
11-06-2011, 01:10 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: n.e.somerset
Posts: 3,219
| | | Re: Mites on bumblebees and other hitch-hikers
Lice sometimes attach themselves to bees.
__________________
Once, I used to Ramble!
But now I just Amble. |
11-06-2011, 01:25 PM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sheffield, FPRSY
Posts: 7,655
| | | Re: Mites on bumblebees and other hitch-hikers
Yes, there are many species of phoretic mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) which travel on a variety of animals. They go through various nymphal stages: as with true bugs and the like, the young differ from the 'adults' just by being smaller and sexually immature.
Sorry, can't give any comprehensive references but a look at http://www.cefe.cnrs.fr/eaam/pdf/Nio...ytron_2006.pdf
gives an indication of how many species are found on the dung communities in Francfe. |
11-06-2011, 01:34 PM
| | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 301
| | | Re: Mites on bumblebees and other hitch-hikers
It seems a bit late, but these are larvae (called Triungulins) of a species of Meloe, one of the Oil beetles. A complicated life cycle involving these as first instar larvae, taken back to the bee nest where they transform into a completely different larval type, feeding on the food stored by the bee. A very unusual and lucky sighting! |
11-06-2011, 01:54 PM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Near the Brownwich and Chilling cliffs
Posts: 981
| | | Re: Mites on bumblebees and other hitch-hikers
Thanks both! And good heavens aren't there are a lot of different hitch-hikers then!
I'm off back to that pdf now - which was strangely fascinating! |
11-06-2011, 02:30 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sheffield, FPRSY
Posts: 7,655
| | | Re: Mites on bumblebees and other hitch-hikers
Quote:
Originally Posted by triops  It seems a bit late, but these are larvae (called Triungulins) of a species of Meloe, one of the Oil beetles. A complicated life cycle involving these as first instar larvae, taken back to the bee nest where they transform into a completely different larval type, feeding on the food stored by the bee. A very unusual and lucky sighting! | Thanks triops - that will teach me to look closely at the pictures! Indeed a fascinating capture, dbs. |
11-06-2011, 02:45 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Watford, Hertfordshire.
Posts: 4,863
| | | Re: Mites on bumblebees and other hitch-hikers
Quote:
Originally Posted by triops It seems a bit late, but these are larvae (called Triungulins) of a species of Meloe, one of the Oil beetles. A complicated life cycle involving these as first instar larvae, taken back to the bee nest where they transform into a completely different larval type, feeding on the food stored by the bee. A very unusual and lucky sighting! | The great Jean-Henri Fabre gave a very detailed account of the amazing life-cycle of the Oil Beetle (the man had incredible patience and powers of observation!). Download (for free) the book here: The Glow-Worm and Other Beetles by Jean-Henri Fabre - Project Gutenberg
Jim |
11-06-2011, 06:40 PM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Near the Brownwich and Chilling cliffs
Posts: 981
| | | Re: Mites on bumblebees and other hitch-hikers
Quote:
Originally Posted by triops It seems a bit late, but these are larvae (called Triungulins) of a species of Meloe, one of the Oil beetles. A complicated life cycle involving these as first instar larvae, taken back to the bee nest where they transform into a completely different larval type, feeding on the food stored by the bee. A very unusual and lucky sighting! | How exciting! I'd love to know which of the Meloe beetles. I know we have Meloe proscarabaeus around here.
Thanks again! Rhona | | |
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