Have you ever thought about the tiny passengers that might be hitching a ride on beetles? Scientists have just discovered seven new species of mites that do exactly that. These little travelers have some interesting preferences. In Brazil, you can find two types: S. incisus and S. spinisetus. Over in Madagascar, there's S. madagascariensis. One mite in Argentina is quite the social butterfly, happily hanging out with five different beetle species!
These mites are so tiny that we're still learning a lot about them. In fact, one species was recently reclassified, which shows how our understanding of these creatures is constantly evolving. With these new discoveries, we now know of 12 different Spatulaphorus mite species worldwide. Isn't that fascinating?
These mites aren't just fascinating because of their travel habits. They also tell us a lot about the ecosystems they live in. By studying them, scientists can learn more about the relationships between different species and the environments they share.
