Mites? on hummingbird beaks

Thu Nov 14 10:56:23 CST 2002

Dear everybody,
On pictures taken of hummingbirds visiting feeders in Monteverde,
Costa Rica small reddish objects can be seen on the beaks of two
males. I have heard of mites transporting themselves between flowers
by hitchhiking with flower-visiting animals, but I am not able to see
any legs on these objects. Other explanations could be anthers from
previously visited flowers or some mould colony from the sugar
solution in the feeder. Can somebody with more experience help me?
You find the pictures at
http://arbetsplats.slu.se:4032/Shared%20Documents/1422Mite and
http://arbetsplats.slu.se:4032/Shared%20Documents/1421Mite

Thanks in advance
B?rge Pettersson