stag beetle mites

[chyguy]

i was just wondering if anyone knows if the mites
that are on the under side of a wood or stag beetle
were the beneficial mites they are red and about the size of a
seed tick . just thought if they are beneficial mites
it would be a easy way to get rid of mite infestation
well any experts please help
thanks cheyenne dryden

 

[spider]

Are they Wild?
Maybe they are just Hitching a Ride.
Sorry,I am no Expert.

 

[Wade]

That appears to be Odontotaenius disjunctus, also known as the "bess beetle", the "patent leather beetle" and the "horned passalus". Not really a stag, but related I believe.

They are known to carry mites. They are thought to be comensuals and harmless, but that does look like a lot of them. Treating them might be difficult since they pretty much need moist rotten wood to survive. Predatory mites would be the only way to go, but it may not be worth buying them. I'd probably just leave them there unless you're buying predatories for something else anyway.

Wade

 

[chyguy]

i just thuoght they might be the good mites because
if they were i would try to extract them and apply
them to bugs that have mites so i guess no luck here.
thanks alot cheyenne dryden

 

[Wade]

I did meet a guy at a recent reptile show who sells Hypoaspis sp. mites in smaller quantities for animal keepers. His website is www.mega-mites.com

Wade

 

[chyguy]

thanks wade thats great ill order some today .
thanks a million
cheyenne dryden