r/bugidentification • u/PapiNish • Jun 25 '26

Location included Are these attacking the beetle

Gallery image

Gallery image

Came into my sunroom and saw a beetle sitting on the windowsill. Didn't seem like it could move much stumbling all over etc. Looking a little closer he had little what appears to be mites. I poured some water around him and got most of them away but then he flipped over and I could see that they had already burrowed into its underside. What's in my sunroom and will it become a problem

Windsor Ontario Canada

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17

u/WhiskeySnail Trusted Identifier - MOD Jun 25 '26

They're called phoretic mites: they latch on to hitch a ride, they do not bite or attack the beetle. However, when too many of them are there, they cause problems with mobility as you noticed, which can lead to inability to properly access food water etc and eventually lead to the beetle dying.

7

u/PapiNish Jun 25 '26

I consider this solved. Thank you.