This Lasius alienus worker hosts an Oplitis mite on her mid-leg. Mites are ubiquitous inhabitants of ant nests, although their biology and relationships to the ants is poorly understood.
Dinothrombium velvet mites are elephants among the acari. These raisin- sized arthropods roam the Sonoran Desert floor after the onset of summer rains.

Tucson, Arizona, USA
A predatory velvet mite forages along a mossy log in an eastern deciduous forest.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
This Lasius alienus worker hosts an Oplitis mite on her mid-leg. Mites are ubiquitous inhabitants of ant nests, although their biology and relationships to the ants is poorly understood.
This Lasius alienus worker hosts an Oplitis mite on her mid-leg. Mites are ubiquitous inhabitants of ant nests, although their biology and relationships to the ants is poorly understood.
This Lasius alienus worker hosts an Oplitis mite on her mid-leg. Mites are ubiquitous inhabitants of ant nests, although their biology and relationships to the ants is poorly understood.
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013