Tarsonemus Mite Female
Transmitted Oblique Illumination
The female can be distinguished from the male by its slightly larger size and by its very thin,
long, fourth pair of legs. One of these is visible in this photograph just behind (lower left)
the mites body. The head of the mite is facing up to the right. The cluster of birefringent
crystals in the back portion of the mite are the crystallized waste and decomposition compounds
of the mite. That indicates that this mite was possibly alive at the time of capture on the tape.
The female can be distinguished from the male by its slightly larger size and by its very thin,
long, fourth pair of legs. One of these is visible in this photograph just behind (lower left)
the mites body. The head of the mite is facing up to the right. The cluster of birefringent
crystals in the back portion of the mite are the crystallized waste and decomposition compounds
of the mite. That indicates that this mite was possibly alive at the time of capture on the tape.
