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Anystis sp.
Small red mite preying on a derbid planthopper. I often see them running around on leaves and had been wondering what they ate. Now I know :)
In a linden bush beside a busy urban street
Spotted on Jul 15, 2015
Submitted on Jul 15, 2015
5 Comments
Update: someone just told me this is a mite of the genus Anystis, a genus of generalist predatory mites.
Nice series Hannah.
Thanks :)
@Leuba: No phoresis going on here, I don't think. I know mites do that, but in this case, the prey wasn't moving (or at least, not walking: might have still been alive), and the mite was standing on the leaf and holding it, with mouthparts in contact with the prey. I've seen these mites running actively all over the leaves of the plant where I found it, so I'm pretty sure they are a predatory species :)
Awesome!
Great pics ! The little insect looks like a derbid planthopper and the mite might just be hitching a ride, which they do (Phoresis) - but in this case the mite's a little too big - so you could be right I guess.