Defensive consumption of parasitic mites by Anopheles crucians larvae
Lanciani, C.A.
Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association 4(2): 195
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 8756-971X PMID: 3193119 Document Number: 321407
When larval mites (Arrenurus pseudotenuicollis) were exposed to 4th-instar larvae of Anopheles crucians, the mosquito began to thrash about as the mites tried to attach themselves. This defensive response was followed by grooming and ingestion of the parasitic mites. Two field-collected mosquito larvae in Florida contained 1 mite each in their gut. The author suggests that removal of attached mites is adaptive: mites not dislodged or eaten can parasitize the emerging adult mosquitoes.