Anton Sorokin

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Poecilochirus species mites on a dying Scaphinotus species ground beetle. The mites probably did not cause this beetles death as this genus of mite is well known for riding on beetles - particularly carrion beetles (which this is not). While the exact relationship between this type of beetle and mite is not known in the published literature. Their reltionship with carrion beetles on the other hand is well documented. The carrion beetles deliver the mites to a food source which the mites then disembark on. There they feed on fly larvae and eggs which compete with the beetle's larvae for food.

Poecilochirus species mites on a Scaphinotus species ground beetle. This genus of mite is well known for riding on beetles - particularly carrion beetles (which this is not). While the exact relationship between this type of beetle and mite is not known in the published literature, their relationship with carrion beetles is well documented. The beetles deliver the mites to a food source which the mites then disembark on. There they feed on fly larvae and eggs which compete with the beetle's larvae for food.

Poecilochirus species mites on a Scaphinotus species ground beetle. This genus of mite is well known for riding on beetles - particularly carrion beetles (which this is not). While the exact relationship between this type of beetle and mite is not known in the published literature, their relationship with carrion beetles is well documented. The beetles deliver the mites to a food source which the mites then disembark on. There they feed on fly larvae and eggs which compete with the beetle's larvae for food.