It was a bit weird for me to notice a pseudoscorpion ‘riding’ a crane fly.
What? First was a weasel ‘riding’ a woodpecker, now a pseudoscorpion ‘riding’ a big mosquito?!
What is a pseudoscorpion?
It’s an inoffensive arachnid(2-8 mm in length) which has pincers very similar to those of scorpions. They usually eat ants, mites, small flies, clothes moth larvae and carpet beetle larvae. You might notice this tiny insect in rooms with dusty books where it finds booklice and mites. A pseudoscorpion lives up to three years.
About crane flies, there is not much to be said.
These insects, resembling to an over sized mosquito, are found worldwide. Crane fly larvae eat roots and other vegetation.
When I was a kid I was terrified because I thought their bite is more painful than a mosquito’s bite. Unlike mosquitoes, crane flies DO NOT bite people or animals In fact, adult crane flies do not eat at all; most adult crane flies only mate and then die ( occasionally, some of them eat nectar).
And here comes a new word for me: phorecy.
Phoresy is one animal attached to another exclusively for transport, like mites on insects, pseudoscorpions on mammals or beetles, and millipedes on birds.
Next time when you notice a crane fly, do not be afraid, look carefully, it might be carrying a pseudoscorpion.
I dislike to copy information but this time I had no idea what to tell you about this photo. For this post I read some things here, here, here, here and here.
That’s an incredible photo! I have no idea how you saw the two insects in the first place, let along get such a good photo of them. Very interesting information as well!
Thank you.
I took the lens from an old slide projector and used to my camera (as a ‘macro lens’) and I went on fields. I already knew how big eyes have these crane flies. When I tried to took a photo of this crane fly, I noticed a tiny creature. And here you have an interesting photo.
Aa, next time you notice a crane fly, look carefully, maybe there is a pseudoscorpion on, too.
Wow, Cornel, I never knew this. Fantastic photo, as well!
Isn’t it amazing how many interesting insects live around us?
But we know just a little about this beautiful world.
I love this photo, Cornel. That’s a very creative way to get a macro shot, good thinking! Insects are amazing creatures.
Thank you!
Indeed, insects are so amazing!
We need just a bit of time to notice them.
Mie mi se pare ca se tin de mana 😀
Cam așa este, numai că cel mic îl strânge cam tare pe cel mare. :))
Oricum, era tare cuminte pseudoscorpionul, cât am stat lângă ei nu s-a mișcat.
Excellent photo and interesting post.
Thank you.
🙂
you have such a great eye for detail–the ‘feathers’ on a mosquito’s antennae–and now this teeny tiny creature on top of a teeny tiny creature!
Don’t forget, I always wear my glasses. This might be a plus.
Just kidding, with my glasses I see just normal.
Amazing shot!
Thank you!