Butt Mites

[Commander]

In a forthcoming article, I'm featuring the presence of mites that hang on to butterflies. I'm sure that many of you may have already encountered the occasional butterfly with a reddish mite (usually on the eyes or head).

If you have such shots, please post them here. Mites are parasites and are part of the ecology of the web of life. Interestingly the butterflies carrying such mites still appear to be able to fly normally and go about their activities. But how long they will survive with a parasite attached to them, I have no idea. :thinking:

[Great Mormon]

heres one of the banded imperial...

http://butterflycircle.com/files/banded%20imperial%20eye%20100409.jpg

[Commander]

Thanks. Your shot looks more like a mite. The first shot on the Arhopala looks more like a tick! Or maybe it's fatter after sucking blood. :thinking:

BTW, it's Branded Imperial. ;P

[Great Mormon]

Thanks. Your shot looks more like a mite. The first shot on the Arhopala looks more like a tick! Or maybe it's fatter after sucking blood. :thinking:

BTW, it's Branded Imperial. ;P

oops, made such a blatant mistake! :mad2:

[horace2264]

Tick or mite?

[Great Mormon]

Tick or mite?

Your one looks like it got a big pimple on the head :bsmile: :bsmile: :bsmile:

[horace2264]

Your one looks like it got a big pimple on the head :bsmile: :bsmile: :bsmile:
A big pimple full of blood. :bsmile::bsmile::bsmile:

On a more serious note, a google search suggests the possibility of the red speck/glob being an early stage of the Velvet mite. See this blog article (http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2006/05/09/she-wore-red-velvet/) for a short description of this species of mite.

[Grass Demon]

I have a very old butterfly show which my late father recorded on VHS VCD. It shows how mites latch onto butterflies to travel from one flower to another. I will check to see whether it is still viewable. Anyone has the equipment to convert to DVD?

[Commander]

Our member, Adrian Hoskins from the UK also records shots with multiple mites of the species Trombidium breei on the Marbled White. Read his article here (http://www.learnaboutbutterflies.com/Britain%20-%20Melanargia%20galathea.htm).

I wonder if it's the same species of mite that out butts here carry. :thinking:

[Commander]

Posting another shot from our guru Simon Sng taken some time back. :grin2:

[Commander]

And two more shots of fat mites on Arhopala. Anyone recognises these shots? Can't remember whose these are. :hmmm:

[horace2264]

And two more shots of fat mites on Arhopala. Anyone recognises these shots? Can't remember whose these are. :hmmm:
The first one is by Monarch, see this 2004 post (http://butterflycircle.com/forums/showthread.php?t=731). CP has an open-wing version of the same butt here (http://butterflycircle.com/forums/showpost.php?p=14331&postcount=7).

Chee Ming had one pic with a red mite near a skipper's eye here (http://butterflycircle.com/forums/showpost.php?p=32002&postcount=1).

[Peacock Royal]

Prosotas dubiosa lumpura (Tailless Line Blue)

[atronox]

They seem to favour Arhopalas.

[Commander]

Thanks to everyone who contributed your photos of butts with mites on them. Blog article published.

Parasitic Mites on Butterflies (http://butterflycircle.blogspot.com/2009/10/parasitic-mites-on-butterflies.html) :cheers: