Heavyweight Champ plus Mites, Pt. 5 - _TNY_5286

The Carabus coriaceus ground beetle lacks a common English name but both the Swedish and German names reference the leathery appearance of it so perhaps we informally could dub this the leather ground beetle?

 

Either way, this is the largest ground beetle in Sweden and can reach a total length of 40 mm (1.6") which really is quite hefty.

 

Also, a large beetle needs large mandibles. Just look at the set of mandibles on this one - looks like a pair of bolt cutters!

 

This particular one kept running and running over the moss in the pretty dense spruce forest of the Rudan nature reserve in Handen on the south side of Stokholm, Sweden, but I stayed on it and when it finally stopped - it suddenly kept completely still, enabling me to get very close. This was when I noticed it had a bunch of mites in various size climbing around on its head.

 

I believe these mites belong to the family Parasitidae, but to be phoretic mites, as in them using the host for travel and not feeding on it. The long legs suggest them being predatory.

 

Part 1 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/51635767143/

 

Part 2 (closer) here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/51683005470/

 

Part 3 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/51862369340/

 

Part 4 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53454151260/

 

A very close-up shot of one of the mites here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/51706471201/

Done