New Dragon-Like Species Discovered by SI Fellow

“Osperalycus tenerphagus,” a new mite discovered in Ohio. (Low-temperature scanning electron microscope image courtesy Samuel Bolton and Gary Bauchan of the Agricultural Research Service, USDA)

Samuel Bolton, a pre-doctorate entomology fellow at the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), has discovered a new species of dragon-like mites, called Osperalycus tenerphagus. While these mites may look intimidating, they are a vulnerable and tiny species, measuring up to only 1mm or less in length. Bolton made this amazing discovery in soil right across the road from his Columbus, Ohio lab. Learn more about this fellow’s discovery on the new species in Smithsonian Science’s article.