Hi Mikhail – Thanks. The closer one looks at mites, the more interesting they become. I don’t think I ever used this image in another publication, so you should cite this post if you need one.

Hi TJ – most of the images are Scanning Electron Micrographs mostly taken on a JOEL of one model or another. Preparation is the tough part of the process – you might look around for what they call an environmental scanning electron microscope that allows imaging of unprocessed animals.

I’d like to be able to do the same for other small arthropods, like collembola, etc.

Thanks : )

Hi Dave,

My name is Sinikiwe and I am interested in licensing your image for Men’s Health Magazine. Could you please contact me ASAP.

Sinikiwe Dhliwayo
Men’s Health Magazine
212.808.1409
sinikiwe.dhliwayo@rodale.com

MicrOlivier

I was writing metaphorically, but I suppose one could measure the thickness of the gland walls and compare it to the length of the stylets. Presumably, secretory cells line the glands and would need to be pierced to get at the haemolymph, so they may actually ‘eat’ the glands. Not all parasites are properly prudent when partaking of their hosts.

I just spent my life savings on a house and a hectare, so no microscope in the near future, but it would be nice to set up on the deck and enjoy the garden and its wildlife while working. At the moment both Striped and Spotted Marsh Frogs are croaking away in the dam and a Pied Cormorant is hunting yabbies. The drone of Sunday lawnmowers is in the distance. I suppose I will have to take mine for a ride later this week.

Some really cool molecular studies might determine what they feed on. However, my preliminary guess (from morphology of their cheliceral stylets) is that they feed on the bugs’ haemolymph by way of piercing the stink gland walls (much like tracheal mites do, via the tracheal system in honey bees). Another option may be to enjoy the soup (exudate) produced by the bug’s stink gland, but the mites wouldn’t need such strongly produced stylets for that kind of intake.

Nice to see you back, but please latch onto a decent compound microscope to pick back up on new observations/studies!