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rob-powell — Bridge Mites

Published: 2011-04-20 18:01:25 +0000 UTC; Views: 4499; Favourites: 85; Downloads: 76
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Description Submitted to CA.org COW#209 Bridge The Gap

On a group of islands in the Pacific live a swarm of creatures, no bigger than the human hand, called Bridge Mites. Named for their bridge building abilities, they live underground in a vast network of tunnels filled with a fungus which they feed on. To expand their colony and to find more sustinence they build bridges between islands so they can access new grounds for feeding. It is actually the females that do all the building, as they chew on dirt and sand to create a cement like substance once its dries. Unlike the females, the males are winged and can fly and they also use their sharp pincers to fend off any predators. They can also create a bridge of their own by linking claws with other males so the females can work more efficiantly.
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Comments: 4

KickOutSilence [2011-06-22 22:53:52 +0000 UTC]

maybe what looks like "one eye" is actually a pair of eyes under a layer of skin or something. I love those, theyre pretty damn cute and (obviously) very ant-like ~

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jennystokes [2011-04-21 06:13:51 +0000 UTC]

Well they certainly look strong enough to 'build bridges'. However they only seem to have one eye, how do they see.
Nice little fellows have to take a visit to the Pacific Islands to see one or two.
Does David Attenborough know about these.?
Nice work.

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rob-powell In reply to jennystokes [2011-04-21 13:12:29 +0000 UTC]

they can see with their one eye
thnx for the and comment

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jennystokes In reply to rob-powell [2011-04-21 13:38:28 +0000 UTC]

OH! How disabling!
I am surprised that they have survived as this 'unique' species!

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