I am still sorting through different Berlese funnel litter samples. Mites are very abundant, haven't counted but seems like 20-30 species.
For all species, except 1, there are numerous individuals. The odd one was this critter, a hard black ball that appears to be carrying a house on its back.
Top image: Nikon MPlan 20x, reflected light; mite in Euparal.
2nd image: closeup of weird bent hairs on the dorsal surface
3rd image: the even weirder legs that terminate in a very fine point with a single claw.
Olympus BH2, 20x Splan objective, 1.25x intermediate tube, 2.5x projection eyepiece.
Mite extracted into 100% Methanol, washed in methanol, excess removed, mounted in Euparal.
Any ideas as to species?
Polarized Mite
Polarized Mite
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- polarized mite 29x21.jpg (43.95 KiB) Viewed 2484 times
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- polarized mite hairs 29x21.jpg (15.37 KiB) Viewed 2484 times
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- polarized mite legs 29x21.jpg (43.23 KiB) Viewed 2484 times
New Brunswick
Canada
Canada
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- Location: Georgia, USA
Re: Polarized Mite
Should see lots of these beetle mites Berlese described some himself they crawl about in the moss and dirt
1942 Bausch and Lomb Series T Dynoptic, Custom Illumination
Re: Polarized Mite
Very nice. I'd love to see a ventral view if you happen upon one.
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Re: Polarized Mite
That's pretty wild.
How did you get them on to a slide? Cover slip? Did you permanently mount them?
How did you get them on to a slide? Cover slip? Did you permanently mount them?
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- Posts: 1186
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Re: Polarized Mite
There ya go. How can such an ugly thing be so beautiful. Good work.
Re: Polarized Mite
Awesome work, thanks for sharing!