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A mitey problem
Jan 10, 2019 22:10:59   #
newtoyou Loc: Eastport
 
A bit back sippyjug posted a photo of a Bess Bug with mites. He kindly sent them to me, and I believe they are not phoretic(ride hitching) mites. They are one of the 51 Mesostomatid(read parasites) on the nine species of Bess Bugs surveyed. I managed to wash most away so instead of many, I have few, in with some alcohol. I have a few shots of one. To say small is an understatement. These shot with a 4x microscope lens and adapter. DOF is ultra fine. Two hours and about a hundred shots and this is the best. Cannot get mite in fine focus, tho the #00 insect pin seems to be OK. The need for a very fine adjustment for this work is apparent. The ratchet rails are difficult at best. A vernier adjustment??? A microscope stage??? The mites are about .5mm or smaller.
Thanks to all. Hope this proves interesting. It IS time consuming. Quality of these leaves a lot to be desired. I could not get better focus. I am in a third floor condo. Moon and star shots a no go, vibration. I had a ten power lens on for a bit. Could not get enough light, period. Back to working with MPE. It is more forgiving.
Night all.
Bill


(Download)


(Download)

Other side of mite
Other side of mite...
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Other end of the pin
Other end of the pin...
(Download)

The paper tube cuts reflection in the tubes
The paper tube cuts reflection in the tubes...
(Download)

The LED lights used
The LED  lights used...
(Download)

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Jan 11, 2019 00:34:56   #
Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI
 
Still, a laudable effort! Why do you think they are not phoretic?
The 'official' way to prepare such things is to clear them and mount flat under a microscope cover slip. A microscope would then be used to see them properly. I think I can dig up some protocols.

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Jan 11, 2019 01:41:35   #
newtoyou Loc: Eastport
 
Mark Sturtevant wrote:
Still, a laudable effort! Why do you think they are not phoretic?
The 'official' way to prepare such things is to clear them and mount flat under a microscope cover slip. A microscope would then be used to see them properly. I think I can dig up some protocols.


No need for protocols. Have them. Was a challenge to just get what I got. My reasons for my ID, poor as it is.
These were all on a joint, where the membrane is thinest. Easy feeding. A study of nine Bess Bug species ( not my study) found 51 species of Mesostomatid mites. No mention of phoretic. From what I have seen, phoretic mites are scattered. They also have an anal thread attachment that they can disolve at the time the beetle ride is near the mites food, which may not be the food of the beetle. Not Mesostomatid mites, from what I read. There was very little info without realy digging. I think I am going to get back to the MPE-65. Find another mite and try with that lens. This had less to do with taxonomy, more to do with 'could I get a photo'. Thanks for the interest, Mark.
Bill

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Jan 11, 2019 04:44:14   #
EnglishBrenda Loc: Kent, England
 

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Jan 11, 2019 17:45:17   #
sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri
 
Bill, this is quite amazing. The mites were so small that I could not see them until I shot and posted them and even then they looked like little white "things" under their chins. I could tell that they were critters even then.

I know how fine the mounting pins are, just a hair's width (if I can remember back to when I had hair) so seeing the pin in your picture really illustrates how small the mites are.

Quite impressive effort!

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Jan 11, 2019 19:34:19   #
newtoyou Loc: Eastport
 
sippyjug104 wrote:
Bill, this is quite amazing. The mites were so small that I could not see them until I shot and posted them and even then they looked like little white "things" under their chins. I could tell that they were critters even then.

I know how fine the mounting pins are, just a hair's width (if I can remember back to when I had hair) so seeing the pin in your picture really illustrates how small the mites are.

Quite impressive effort!


Thank you. The mite, as you can see, is smaller than the pinhead.
Acarologists go directly to Heaven. They went thru hell already.
Bill

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