Hister Beetle with Phoretic Mites
Hololepta aequalis Say, 1825. Found at Swamplovers Nature Preserve in southern Wisconsin. Dane County, Wisconsin, USA.
Found on felled hardwood tree (cottonwood I think) in log pile in mixed hardwood forest. These live under bark of dead trees and this one was dwelling on the log surface trying to find a way under the bark. Has several phoretic mites attached to the pygidium and another more obvious one riding on the pronotum.
Single exposure, uncropped, handheld, in situ. Canon MT-24EX flash unit, Ian McConnachie and plastic cup diffuser.
Hister Beetle with Phoretic Mites
Hololepta aequalis Say, 1825. Found at Swamplovers Nature Preserve in southern Wisconsin. Dane County, Wisconsin, USA.
Found on felled hardwood tree (cottonwood I think) in log pile in mixed hardwood forest. These live under bark of dead trees and this one was dwelling on the log surface trying to find a way under the bark. Has several phoretic mites attached to the pygidium and another more obvious one riding on the pronotum.
Single exposure, uncropped, handheld, in situ. Canon MT-24EX flash unit, Ian McConnachie and plastic cup diffuser.