mites on Bessbugs (Odontotaenius disjunctus)

[Galapoheros]

I had to look up the scientific name. The milli post about mites made me think about this. I use to find a lot of Bessbugs growing up at my parents place. I noticed that every one I found had many very small reddish brown mites that ran around very quickly for a mite. Does anyone on the forum know if these are predatory mites? If these are the good predatory mites, I would like to know in case I happen to get an infestation of the "bad" mites on my centipedes, scorps, etc. I wonder if these would be compatible with centipedes?....if they are the good ones. Next time I go to my parents, I will find a Bessbug and take a picture of the mites I'm talking about. Right now, I can see 2 or 3 fast gray mites running around on the pedes. Hope they stay around. I lost several pedes due to mites before I learned how to attempt to control them.

 

[Wade]

I think the mites found on O. disjunctus are comensuals and probably live on that species exclusively. They're harmless, and possibly bennificial to the beetles, but would probably not migrate to annother species. They probably don't eat other mites anyway, more likley they feed on fungus or some by-product the beetle produces.

The predatory mites sold for pest control don't live on the animals themselves, but in and on the soil.

Wade

 

[Galapoheros]

Great information! All that was new to me. That sure makes sense. There are so many mites on each beetle. Thanks.