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Predatory mite

Anystis sp.

Photo by Hannah Davis
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

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 :)

Habitat:

In a linden bush beside a busy urban street

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (5)

Update: someone just told me this is a mite of the genus Anystis, a genus of generalist predatory mites.
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 :)
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.

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