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Luciaphorus perniciosus mite near rupture

Luciaphorus perniciosus mite near rupture

A female Luciaphorus perniciosus mite’s abdomen swells with offspring, which grow to adult size and even mate (with each other) inside her abdomen, before the mother’s abdomen ultimately ruptures, releasing the offspring and killing the mother in the process. In this image, the mite’s mature offspring are visible inside her enlarged abdomen. (Photo credit: Prapassorn Bussaman, Ph.D.)

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