Ectoparasites Collection

Eyelash mite tails, SEM
Eyelash mite tails. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the tails (pink) of three eyelash, or follicle, mites (Demodex folliculorum), protruding from a human hair follicle

Sheep Tick (Ixodes ricinus) nymph, resting on leaf, Sussex, England, June

Sheep Tick (Ixodes ricinus) adult, full of ingested blood

White-clawed Freshwater Crayfish (Austropotamobius italicus) adult male, close-up of claw with Parasitic Annelid (Branchiobdella astaci) ectoparasites attached, Italy, july

Sheep Tick (Ixodes ricinus) adult female, engorged, resting on fern frond, Ashdown Forest, East Sussex, England

Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola) adult, with butterflyfish feeding on ectoparasites from skin, Batu Abah, Nusa Penida, Bali, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia

Sarcoptic mange mite eggs, SEM
Sarcoptic mange mites eggs, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). This burrowing mite causes the skin disease scabies. Magnification: x200 when printed at 10 centimetres wide

Sarcoptic mange mites, SEM
Sarcoptic mange mites, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). These burrowing mites cause the skin disease scabies. Magnification: x30 when printed at 10 centimetres wide

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"Ectoparasites: Unseen Intruders of the Animal Kingdom" In the microscopic realm, eyelash mite tails sway delicately under the watchful eye of a scanning electron microscope (SEM). These minuscule creatures, often unnoticed, inhabit our very own lashes. Moving from tiny to slightly larger ectoparasites, we encounter a sheep tick nymph resting on a leaf in Sussex, England. Its presence serves as a reminder that these blood-sucking arachnids can be found lurking in nature's corners. As they mature into adults, sheep ticks gorge themselves on ingested blood until their bodies are engorged and swollen with nourishment. A striking image indeed - an adult sheep tick filled to the brim with its crimson feast. Returning to the world of eyelashes, SEM reveals intricate details of eyelash mites themselves. These unseen inhabitants may go about their lives undisturbed but are ever-present companions on our faces. Venturing further into animal ecosystems brings us face-to-face with mange mites. SEM exposes their formidable appearance; these parasites cause discomfort and distress for various species across the animal kingdom. Even freshwater crayfish fall prey to ectoparasitic annelids known as Branchiobdella astaci. Attached to their claws or bodies, these unwelcome guests remind us that no creature is immune from parasitic intrusion. Ectoparasites serve as a testament to nature's complex web of interdependence and survival strategies. From microscopic eyelash mite tails to engorged sheep ticks and clinging annelids - they all play roles in shaping ecosystems while reminding us that even within seemingly ordinary environments lies an extraordinary world waiting to be discovered.