Flipping through field notebooks…
Phoretic mites and their hosts, burying beetles (Nicrophorus), represent a unique relationship that has evolved alongside the behaviors of both organisms. Both the beetles and mites rely on carrion for sustenance and breeding. The key difference between the two is that the mites have very low mobility due to their size. On the other hand, burying beetles can cover kilometers searching for a carcass to breed on, as the mites hitch a ride in the process. Through this study, we dove deeper into how this relationship evolved by examining how phoretic mites choose a host, specifically N. investigator and its associated mite complex. We examined any differences in host preference throughout the beetle’s life cycle and whether the sex of the host affects the mites’ behavior, while controlling for body size and species. Mites were counted on beetles at four stages of maturity to understand their preferences. Alongside these observational studies, we also carried out a paired-choice test to directly observe the mites choosing a host. To remove and count mites, we made use of pressurised carbon dioxide to anesthetize and remove any mites. We found a significant positive relationship between beetle size and mite load at all life stages, including the larval stage. We also found that, on average, female beetles had higher levels of infestation compared to males in wild-caught populations. This is the first time these trends have been observed on N. investigator, and much more research needs to be done in order to better understand the relationship between Nicrophorus and their phoretic mites.
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