Neotrichozetes spinulosa
This mite a walking pincushion that looks like the character Pinhead from the Hellraiser movies!
First described from Argentina, this species has also been found in New Zealand and Australia. Despite this distribution, there are more records from New Zealand than anywhere else, so it may be native rather than introduced. It can be found in native forest over much of Aotearoa.
While the Hellraiser mite is part of the megadiverse order Oribatida, it is the only member of the family Neotrichozetidae. Not only is this the first oribatid mite to be nominated for Bug of the Year, it’s also quite spectacular looking despite being less than a millimetre long. While other oribatids use chemicals or armoured flaps to defend themselves, these animals are instead covered with long, coarse hairs. These hairs make it look like the character Pinhead from the Hellraiser movies!
Check these links for more info on the Hellraiser Mite in NZ
Wikipedia: Information on Neotrichozetes spinulosa
images
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