Beetle with bumpy cuticle and unusual feet

fungus beetle?

I've seen this phenomenon on various taxa of fungus beetles. Mites belonging to several genera (notably Histiostoma, family Histiostomatidae) can appear in these numbers in old fungi.

… Barry M. OConnor, 8 April, 2013 - 4:51pm

i'm 100% sure this is a Trachymela, an adventive chrysomelid

so the mites could be something else, too, right?

… v belov, 11 November, 2013 - 10:55am

not cuticle, just dirt

a filthy chrysomelid -- perhaps a Trachymela

… v belov, 20 December, 2008 - 1:23pm

Actually I think its covered

Actually I think its covered with mites! Makes me itch just looking at it.

… Dennis Haines, 20 December, 2008 - 1:56pm

Beetle mite have been

I think you're right - see new close-up. That's disgusting!

… Peter Bryant, 20 December, 2008 - 3:07pm

wow!!! what a phoresy frenzy...

way to much to bear...

… v belov, 20 December, 2008 - 3:25pm

I think you are probably correct

At the Gathering 2008 an 'unusual' beetle was found with a similar looking shell. It was placed in a small vial for closer inspection, and the bottom of the vial was soon crawling with mites! I'm not sure what type of beetle it was.

… Wisconsin Oecanthinancy, 20 December, 2008 - 2:48pm

a leaf beetle? i doubt it...

on the other hand, normal human skin fauna is composed of dozens of micromite species... (mine, perhaps, hundreds :-)

… v belov, 20 December, 2008 - 2:10pm

Actually, there are only two

Actually, there are only two mite species on "normal" human skin, Demodex folliculorum in hair follicles, typically on the face, and D. brevis, in sebaceous glands. Sarcoptes scabiei, the agent of human scabies, is an old human parasite, but in healthy people, infections are self-limiting. One tick, Ornithodoros moubata, seems to prefer human hosts in Africa, other ticks on people are opportunistic.
And sure, there is a great diversity of prokaryotes on skin!

… Barry M. OConnor, 8 April, 2013 - 4:48pm

thanks for setting me straight, and for the great info!

… v belov, 11 November, 2013 - 10:55am