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Subject: Mites on Fungus Gnats
From: pwplee@hotmail.com (Pen)
Organization: http://groups.google.com/
Date: Sat, 14 Jul 01 10:55:03
Message-ID: <MOD$010714.29096@rec.gardens.ecosystems>



I would never have noticed the mites if I hadn't been swatting then
feeding gnats to my venus fly trap. The mites were really small and
probably hitching a ride on the female gnat. I'm beginning to see
larger versions in the pots of other plants and in my worm bin. They
are definitely eating other mites. Can anyone offer an ID on this
creature?

At maturity, it's about 1mm long, .5mm wide. The abdomen is oval in
dorsal view and flattened from a side view. The colour is coral pink.
They seem to always have two legs in front tapping and feeling out
wherever they go. They move faster than the white/yellow mites that
are in my worm bin. From what I can see, the head is brownish and
comes to a sharp point.

All responses are appreciated, thank you. :-)