Parasites?

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 10:08 pm

Came across this Meadow Brown today...only got one decent shot before it scarpered. What is the general consensus of opinion on the red growths...parasites?

Martin.

Post by **Pete Eeles** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 10:16 pm

Red Spider Mite.

Cheers,

- Pete

eccles · Post by **eccles** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 11:46 am

They are considered a horticultural pest but I think they're harmless to the insect host, just hitching a lift, I believe.

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 5:47 pm

I returned to the same site today and got a shot of a Common Blue with a load too...will post it up later.

Martin.

Dave McCormick · Post by **Dave McCormick** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 6:54 pm

This site does not seem a safe place for butterflies.

Bryan H · Post by **Bryan H** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 7:21 pm

You don't mean this site, Dave?

Bryan

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 8:10 pm

The Common Blue mentioned earlier...

Martin.

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 2:13 pm

Pete...I take it these are the eggs, they don't look much like spiders.

Martin.

Post by **Pete Eeles** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 2:44 pm

They're mites - not spiders! Although they are arachnids! See:

http://www.pbase.com/wildhareuk/image/79873069

for a lovely photo

Cheers,

- Pete

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 5:07 pm

But I see no legs

I'm getting conflicting opinions here...

http://phocus-on.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=3150

Martin.

Dave McCormick · Post by **Dave McCormick** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 5:55 pm

Get loads of them where I am. They have to hatch from something right? Thats why you don't see legs. if they were hatched, the butterfly would not have ad long I think.

Post by **Pete Eeles** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 6:21 pm

Dave McCormick wrote:They have to hatch from something right? Thats why you don't see legs.

I believe that you don't see legs because a) the mite is 0.5mm long and b) it's holding on! The eggs are laid on bark and plant debris, as far as I know, and the larvae that emerge eat healthy plants - which is why they're a pest in orchards and the horticultural trade.

Dave McCormick wrote:if they were hatched, the butterfly would not have ad long I think.

I think they're just hitching a ride

Cheers,

- Pete

Dave McCormick · Post by **Dave McCormick** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 8:36 pm

Well, that could be true. Seen that with a bumble bee before.

Post by **Pete Eeles** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 9:11 pm

If it's not, then the mites are laying eggs slightly larger than themselves

But I'm no mite expert and willing to be corrected, as ever!

Cheers,

- Pete

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 8:59 pm

Sorry Chaps,

I think they are ticks of some sort, they seem to be honing in on chinks in the exoskeleton to me, see what they did to this Bright Eyed Ringlet ( sorry about the quality

)... i'm probably wrong, so shoot me down!

Paul

Post by **Padfield** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 9:42 pm

Lafranchis 1 (his original book on the butterflies of France, Belgium and Luxemburg, which is definitely worth getting if you read French) says they are 'acariens', a group containing mites and ticks. On page 40 he writes (and I translate):

"Butterflies are host to several parasites. Small, red, spherical mites ('de petits acariens rouges et sphériques') attach themselves to the bodies of adults. Satyrids are sometimes infested with them. These parasites seem to annoy their hosts very little".

Voilà!

Guy

Gruditch · Post by **Gruditch** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 6:16 am

I got this real close up the other day. As the weather was as usual c**p, he was a bit dopey and got on my finger at one point. I suppose now, I should of had a better look at the red Mites, damn it

Gruditch

Post by **Pete Eeles** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 7:07 am

After a little research, I've concluded that the mites are Trombidium breei (can't find a common name, but Red Velvet Mite is in the same family).

Red Spider Mite is Tetranychus urticae.

For some reason, everyone (I talk to anyway!) seems to think they're Red Spider Mite - when they're not!!!

Cheers,

- Pete

Dave McCormick · Post by **Dave McCormick** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 8:47 am

Here is a red spider mite and this was very tiny, so I did not belive it was one:

I took this on a window and you could not see it on the window it was so tiny, unless you looked very close. So its not them.

brianwaugh · Post by **brianwaugh** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 6:50 pm

not harmful is the conclusion...
http://www.learnaboutbutterflies.com/Bu ... 0Facts.htm