Harvestman walking through the grass

Harvestman Spider - Phalangium opilio

comments (7)

Jivko Nakev

Lion

The red creatures attached to the spider leg are mite larvae, members of group Parasitengona, belonging to the order Trombidiformes, suborder Prostigmata. They are called "sucking mites" . Some of them are parasites on plants, other on vertibrates or invertibrates. Parasitengona is one of the most diverse groups among Acari. They consist of both aquatic and terrestrial species.
It is impossible to identify the larvae species without close microscopic investigation. It is know that members of four families are recorded as parasites on spiders, namely: Erythraeidae, Trombidiidae, Microtrombidiidae and Eutrombidiidae.
They share a very complex lifestyle: egg, pre-larva, larva, protonymph, deutonymph, tritonymph and adult. The to instar forms parasitising on spiders are the larva, which has 6 legs and the protonymph, which develops in a couple of days and has 8 legs.
I have seen such mite larvae on many species: spiders, wasps, bees. This is a very interesting symbiotic relationship. Although I cannot identify the species of the mites, I add this photo to the list "Symbiosis - living together". Posted 10 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  I've seen those parasites on many species as well, but did not know as much as you shared about them. Thanks also for pointing me to that list, hadn't seen it yet, it's very interesting. Posted 10 years ago
2. 1. Jivko Nakev
    
    Lion
    
    In fact the information about these parasites is very scattered and I had to collect it from many sources. Parasitengona comprises of 14 superfamilies, about 60 families and about 5000 named species!!!
    Posted 10 years ago
  2. 1. Ferdy Christant
      
      Lion
      
      And I guess they all look like red bulbs haha. Posted 10 years ago
    2. 1. Jivko Nakev
        
        Lion
        
        Ya, some of them called "velvet mites" Posted 10 years ago

Barry

Lion

Jivko, I am curious about why you say "Symbiosis". I had always thought that in a symbiosis that both species get something - and I don't see what the Harvestman gets out of this relationship. Isn't this simple Parasitism? Posted 7 years ago
1. Jivko Nakev
  
  Lion
  
  Barry, this is an interesting and discussed question. I prefer to stick to the view that consider the symbiosis as a broader concept that encompasses different types of coexistence of different species. Parasitism is one of them. While this type of coexistence, in which both species have some benefit, is mutualism.
  In this case, as I have red some researches, the mite larvae are not parasitising, they only take advantage of the opportunity to be carried over at a greater distance. Posted 7 years ago

The European Harvestman

"Phalangium opilio" is "the most widespread species of harvestman in the world", occurring natively in Europe, and much of Asia, and having been introduced to North America, North Africa and New Zealand. It is found in a wide range of habitats, including meadows, bogs, forests, and various types of anthropogenic habitats, such as gardens, fields, hedgerows, lawns, quarries, green places in built-up areas, walls and bridges.

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Similar species: Harvestmen

Species identified by Jivko Nakev