CLOSED: Id Please - Eastern Shore of MD

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
spgfr Delmar, MD Jun 30, 2015

Body length can't be more than 1/8" or so - bonus points for the hitchhikers.

Thanks

Thumbnail by spgfr
Post #10104031
Quote
Flapdoodle Minot, ND Jun 30, 2015

This is a weevil in the subfamily Scolitinae (bark/engraver beetles); see http://www.pbase.com/tmurray74/image/145355390 for an example. The 'hitchhikers' are mites, and they are doing exactly that - hitchhiking on the beetle, a phenomenon known as phoresy. There is some debate as to what exactly is the role the mites play in the beetles' life history,; there is evidence that some mites can carry spores of fungi (some scolytids feed on fungi that they 'farm') as well reports of mites feeding on the larvae of the beetles in their tunnels under bark.

Post #10104081
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More Insect and Spider Identification Threads

Go to all Insect and Spider Identification threads
BACK TO TOP