Mite commensalism. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of three young (hypopus) mites attached to the back of an oribate mite. The hypopus is

---

Mite commensalism. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of three young (hypopus) mites attached to the back of an oribate mite. The hypopus is a modified juvenile stage of acarine mites. It is morphologically and behaviourally distinct from other life stages. There are no functional mouthparts and the body is sucker-shaped and smooth, with a thick cuticle. This stage is often used for dispersal of the species, which is achieved by the hypopi attaching themselves to a larger animal that will carry them to a different area. This is a form of phoresy (commensalism).

---

Size: 4843px × 3748px
Photo credit: © THIERRY BERROD, MONA LISA PRODUCTION/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: acarine, agricultural, animal, arachnid, arachnids, arachnology, arthropod, arthropods, attached, behaviour, biological, biology, carried, carrying, coloured, commensalism, commensalist, commensalists, dispersal, entomology, false-coloured, fauna, ground, hypopi, hypopode, hypopodes, hypopus, immature, invertebrate, invertebrates, juvenile, life-cycle, life-stage, mite, mites, nature, oribate, phoresy, sem, wildlife, zoological, zoology