Mites are a hyper-diverse group with around 50,000 described species coming in all sorts. One especially remarkable kind is the Buckeye Dragon Mite, which looks and moves like a worm by extending and contracting its body. It paddles through sand particles over microbeads covering its outer skin. The most peculiar feature thou is its mouth – a purse-like opening that looks like a bowl in front of the mouth. Even though we don’t know exactly how the Buckeye Dragon Mite feeds, it is assumed to secure its prey in the mouth opening first before rupturing the victim with pincers and ingesting its fluids.
Depicted above: Osperalycus Tenerphagus (blue mite)
Length of Osperalycus Tenerphagus: ca 600 µm