Orange mites on Texas collected C. vittatus

[Schlyne]

This is one of the four scorpions collected from Arachnocon (near San Antonio, Tx) that has orange mites.

I talked to David Moellendorf about the mites, and he said that these are acutally lizard mites. They are usually found on alligator lizards and like to collect around the ears. He said that they're just catching a ride, and shouldn't hurt the scorpions at all. He also stated that he's never seen them on snakes, only on lizards.

I plan on removing as many as possible though, as I don't want these mites anywhere near my leopard geckos or my snakes.

Sorry about the poor quality of the shot, as I had only the standard 35mm lens on the camera at the time and I don't have a macro lens.

 

[Prymal]

Schlyne,

Actually, those are a species of velvet mite (Trombidiidae: Trombicula/Trombidium sp.) and are merely exhibiting typical phoretic behavior wherein; the mites use other organisms for transportation.
I could tell you that the larvae of one group is parasitic on arachnids and that one group is host-specific to scorpions but I don't think you want to know this!

 

[Dean]

I had a few on some C.Vittatus that I collected a few weeks back out in Wimberly which is pretty close to San Antonio.

I tried to pull them off with some forceps, but no luck, and I didn't want to hurt the scorps. After about a week and a half, they fell off. I pulled them out as their little orange butts were walking around the enclosure.

They were pretty easy to spot with the substrate I was using at the time. My scorps are doing fine, so I don't think any harm was done.

I came across around ten or so scorps, and all of them had these mites on them in that area. Be nice to know exactly what species they are.

 

[Brian S]

We get those on the vittatus from around here too. Dont worry about them as they will go away in a few weeks in captivity

 

[Prymal]

@ Schlyne:

Nymphs and adults are free-living parasites on many various invertebrate and vertebrate fauna. The larvae ("chiggers") are ectoparasitic on a broad-range of inverts and vertebrates including, man as an opportunistic host. The specimens in your photograph are adults and should prove no worry. The reason that they inhabit the scorpions is primarily for transportation (phoresy).
Here in Michigan, one of their primary phoretic hosts are various opilionids. In a forested region about 15 miles south of Detroit, there's a moderately forested area with a moderate understory and during the evening, every leaf, limb and tree trunk is alive with THOUSANDS of opilionids and it's rare to find a single specimen that does not have at least 6-15 velvet mites attached to the legs - these mites do not utilize the opilionids as a source of food (other trombidiid mites do include opilionids in their diets) but rather as a source for getting from point A to point B.
In a matter of days to weeks, the mites will disperse and when unable to find suitable prey will starve to death.

@Brian:

In your neck of the woods due to the extended warm season, velvet mites probably produce 2-3 generations from spring to late-autumn and are probably everywhere and on everything that moves!

 

[Brian S]

@ Schlyne:
@Brian:

In your neck of the woods due to the extended warm season, velvet mites probably produce 2-3 generations from spring to late-autumn and are probably everywhere and on everything that moves!

Yes they are!!! And I mean EVERYTHING that moves!!! We calll then chiggers around here and they are like super annoying.
We are also blessed with a wide variety of ticks so if anyone is feeling left out I will glady send them a pint jar of chicks and tiggers so they may also enjoy some of the finer things in life

 

[Arlius]

There is a photo posted in the forums on dpreview of a small spider (don't remember what it was, kinda looked like a daddy long legs..) anyways, it had very similar orange mites, and theywere most definately feeding (clearly hanging on by the mouth parts)

found it: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1034&thread=19165438

 

[Prymal]

Arlius,

Velvet mites are active free-living predators in the nymphal and adult stages. As larvae, they are active ectoparasites utilizing many hosts. Several genera utilize members of Araneae as a host. Others can be found on Chilopoda, Myriapoda, Arachnida, Hymenoptera, reptiles and some even parasitize Acari.
Problem is that very little studies have been conducted regarding prey/host choice and predator-prey relationships. Even the systematics of Trombidiidae is confusing with several researchers suggesting various numbers of families.

 

[MizM]

I found them on many of MY vittatus too, and now I'm wondering, should I take the time to annhilate them? Emily and I were told to use a q-tip and rubbing alcohol to swab them off. But if they are going to die in captivity, should we stress the scorps?

Are they a danger to any other living thing in my home?

Brian, keep your ticks, we have way too many in CA this year!!!