• overview of Long House

    Bandelier

    National Monument New Mexico

  • Access to Frijoles Canyon Will Be Limited

    Starting June 1, 2012 all access to the most visited part of the park, Frijoles Canyon, will be via a shuttle bus from the nearby community of White Rock. This is to alleviate a parking shortage created by the Las Conchas Fire. More details to follow.

A Symbiotic Relationship - Carrion Beetles and Mites

carrion beetle with mites

photo by sally king

Carrion beetles and individuals of some species of mites can have a symbiotic relationship. Each derives a benefit from the other. The mites climb aboard the carrion beetle to be transported to new food supplies they could never reach by foot. The mites in turn eat the eggs and freshly hatched maggots of flies that compete with beetle larvae for the food source. Therefore, a mite-laden beetle is more likely to have offspring that survive.
 
carrion beetle with mites 2
Mites ride on carrion beetles to get to their next meal.
photo by sally king

Did You Know?

Black-chinned Hummingbird chicks in nest

Hummingbirds use a combination of plant material, lichens, and moss held together by spider webs to make a flexible nest.  This nest can expand to meet the needs of the growing chicks.