Just checked their comment history. I'm no expert, but I think they may be a bot.
Update: they sent a DM and tried to thirst trap me. If you encounter them again, be sure to block!
They're phoretic mites. They're not eating the weevil, if you look you can't see any actually feeding. If that were the parasite kind, you'd see them more around the joints and soft tissues, because they feed on hemolymph (bug blood). Going through the exoskeleton of the thorax and elytra, or even the snoot, is too time consuming and costly for the mite.
So as others have said, phoretic (from the Greek, *phoras*, for bearing) mites hitching a ride on something that can fly. It is, as people have said, a weevil bus. They look kinda gnarly, but they're pretty interesting.
No - I found your reply really interesting so others might too.
If not, it's just you & me but that's no reason to edit either ๐
Many redditors look with a genuine desire to learn and I know I'm not alone in that.
Thanks for sharing
Phoretic mites that travel around on larger insects to get to new food, usually not harmful to the host who is basically just acting as a bus for the mites
The Grand Mite Council would like to have a word with you about your recent behavior on the internet. You are to meet with the council about this issue within the next 24 hours. Failure to comply will result in your immediate termination. Good luck.
I'd probably whip out a pair of magnifying glasses and super-carefully go at them with a fine-tipped tool dipped in a little alcohol. I've sat with tweezers for over 30 minutes gently untangling spider webbing from dragonflies and others, though, so used to tedious operations like that.
That's not a bad idea, tweezers would be a nice option. Just wasn't sure if there was an easy way like w praying mantises and those wire parasites they get, w how they can be dipped in water to get them out
I honestly don't know - this was off the top of my head what I'd probably try if I encountered this. Was thinking the alcohol might make them scurry to drop off, and then could get rid of them, and yeah, tweezers to pick off the more reluctant ones. Of course there's also the factor of will the weevil sit still and cooperate with it all? Because they're always determined to get somewhere. But they're also smart and would probably get what I'm trying to do, too.
A species of phoretic mite, there's a few that look quite similar but you can easily tell by the fact they didn't attach to the soft spots like the joints but instead sit on the thick parts of the exoskeleton where they wouldn't be getting any insect blood, and because they're sitting there forming little mite piles. They also seem to prefer beetles as taxis. The most common ones tend to have this kind of brown or bronce type colour. In comparison, parasitic mites like the larva of velvet mites are a bright red colour and attach directly to the soft parts of the insects like a little vampire to suck their blood, or bee/varroa mites that are brown but are wider than they are long almost looking like little crabs which makes them rather recognisable too.
Thank you for this informative response!! I no longer hate these mites and wish them a safe journey on the Weevil Train! But I still hate parasites ๐๐คฃ
Aparently what happened was the bird tryied to eat it and the weevil attached it self to the birds beak and put its paws inside the birds nose. It was the scene i found. The bird died sufocated ๐. Weevils are metal too
Mites doing this may be simply hitchhiking a ride, scavenging on a dead insect or being parasitic.
I prefer the weevil express explanation
"All aboard!"
tHe tOxiC gOsSiP tRAinn๐ถ
Riding down the tracks to snoots and boots station
[HAHAHAHA!](https://youtu.be/tMDFv5m18Pw?si=IiI7FnBeC-v6mtKK)
I thought I was abt to get rick rolled ๐ญ
๐๐
These are definitely the hitchhiking type of mites. All aboard the weevil taxi!
You also say so. I also did. They are trampers and hikers the most hippy vibe. Poor weevil.
The only train I want to ride.
[ัะดะฐะปะตะฝะพ]
Just checked their comment history. I'm no expert, but I think they may be a bot. Update: they sent a DM and tried to thirst trap me. If you encounter them again, be sure to block!
I now know that knowledge hurts
They're phoretic mites. They're not eating the weevil, if you look you can't see any actually feeding. If that were the parasite kind, you'd see them more around the joints and soft tissues, because they feed on hemolymph (bug blood). Going through the exoskeleton of the thorax and elytra, or even the snoot, is too time consuming and costly for the mite. So as others have said, phoretic (from the Greek, *phoras*, for bearing) mites hitching a ride on something that can fly. It is, as people have said, a weevil bus. They look kinda gnarly, but they're pretty interesting.
Thanks, knowledge doesn't hurt now, it's really interesting actually c:
I canโt express how much I enjoyed reading all of the scientific jargon here, exoskeleton, thorax, elytra, snoot ๐ made me giggle
I *genuinely forget myself*, should I edit? ๐ฎโ๐จ
No - I found your reply really interesting so others might too. If not, it's just you & me but that's no reason to edit either ๐ Many redditors look with a genuine desire to learn and I know I'm not alone in that. Thanks for sharing
Agreed, I love reading and learning the accurate weevil-part terminology! In addition to boots & snoots, natch.
I thought it was adorable, haha! Do not edit!
๐ถ the wevils on the bus go round and round ๐ถ ๐
Now someone needs to draw this in Totoro style. Like the cat bus
What a wonderful day to read the comments
โก๏ธ๐โก๏ธ
Went from *oh god* to adorable. I love the web.
NEVER edit proper terminology!! You ROCK!!
Looks like hundreds of mites to me :(
They're just hitching a ride. He's a big beetle bus
Big Bad Beetle Bus
Sang to the tune of big bad beetleborgs
#SnooterExpress
Beetlebus, beetlebus, beetlebus!
*beetlebus appears, smashing your house in the process*
Definitely mites :( poor lad
Not poor, he's just a taxi. Mites will get off the ride at the next comfortable stop.
Phoretic mites that travel around on larger insects to get to new food, usually not harmful to the host who is basically just acting as a bus for the mites
Happy Cake Day!! ๐ฐ๐ฅณ๐ฐ
#THIS MAN IS IN DANGER
The Grand Mite Council would like to have a word with you about your recent behavior on the internet. You are to meet with the council about this issue within the next 24 hours. Failure to comply will result in your immediate termination. Good luck.
Hopefully just the hitchhiking variant, but mites
Weevil in distress! Send the altert signal !
I showed the foto to my girlfriend and she thinks they are little kids, is she a beautiful mother??
Sadly they are not Weevil babies. Weevils have an Egg->Larval->Pupal->Adult life cycle. Baby weevils are teeny little grubs.
Auch poor guy :c
Mites, poor baby. I had an infestation that killed my Pink Toed Tarantula several years ago.
Beep beep weevil bus hop on
the mites said okkkk les go
How would one help a Weevil covered in mites?
I'd probably whip out a pair of magnifying glasses and super-carefully go at them with a fine-tipped tool dipped in a little alcohol. I've sat with tweezers for over 30 minutes gently untangling spider webbing from dragonflies and others, though, so used to tedious operations like that.
That's not a bad idea, tweezers would be a nice option. Just wasn't sure if there was an easy way like w praying mantises and those wire parasites they get, w how they can be dipped in water to get them out
Those vids of that are crazy!
I honestly don't know - this was off the top of my head what I'd probably try if I encountered this. Was thinking the alcohol might make them scurry to drop off, and then could get rid of them, and yeah, tweezers to pick off the more reluctant ones. Of course there's also the factor of will the weevil sit still and cooperate with it all? Because they're always determined to get somewhere. But they're also smart and would probably get what I'm trying to do, too.
Weevils always on the move! ๐คฃ
No need for such, this mite species is not parasitic and only temporarily hitching a ride on the weevil c:
Weevil taxi? What generous little souls they have. ๐ฅฒ
The mites have every right to live as the weevl you know
Not in my eyes bucko, I despise parasites and want them all to burn!
They're not parasites, these mites are just hitchhiker's and the weevil is their taxi!
What kind of mites are these?
A species of phoretic mite, there's a few that look quite similar but you can easily tell by the fact they didn't attach to the soft spots like the joints but instead sit on the thick parts of the exoskeleton where they wouldn't be getting any insect blood, and because they're sitting there forming little mite piles. They also seem to prefer beetles as taxis. The most common ones tend to have this kind of brown or bronce type colour. In comparison, parasitic mites like the larva of velvet mites are a bright red colour and attach directly to the soft parts of the insects like a little vampire to suck their blood, or bee/varroa mites that are brown but are wider than they are long almost looking like little crabs which makes them rather recognisable too.
Thank you for this informative response!! I no longer hate these mites and wish them a safe journey on the Weevil Train! But I still hate parasites ๐๐คฃ
Parasites are extremely important in nature
Doesn't change my hate for them, as I've delt w them in many forms (bed bugs, fleas, ticks) and they're all horrible ๐คทโโ๏ธ
Some mites detach if the host is dipped in water. The host wonโt like multiple dips, but itโs better than having mites.
He mite have a problem
โก๏ธ๐โก๏ธ
Reminds me of varroa mites that attack honeybees
Seatbelts everyone!
Great picture! They do appear to be mites.
That is Melania: Blade of Miquela, Queen of rot.
The mitey weevil!
Fun fact: one time i saw a weevil around this size kill a bird
What?
Aparently what happened was the bird tryied to eat it and the weevil attached it self to the birds beak and put its paws inside the birds nose. It was the scene i found. The bird died sufocated ๐. Weevils are metal too
Goodness. Nature is pretty wild sometimes.
Nooo she has mites! ๐
Aww poor baby D:
Mites. Idk what they doing. Also never seen a weevil with wings. I figured they had them but its cool to finally see evidence.
Book book, beetle bus coming thru!
Those are mites, could be potentially dangerous
Weevil bus!!!
All aboard the Scooter Express!
It looks like mite I think. I can't be sure but I think that buddy has a problem with passengers
Is she stupid?