Dragon Mites
Basic Information
Anatomy
Dragon Mites are a fairly large species of biting insect closely resembling ticks, however are not closely related to them. Their mouthparts are incredibly strong and make up most of the creature's head, allowing them to bite into extremely tough hide.
Genetics and Reproduction
Dragon Mites reproduce after long periods of feeding, when the females have had a chance to completely gorge themselves on blood and reach their maximum bloated size. At this point, the mites will breed and females will lay their eggs on the surface of their host's skin or scales in a thick glue like substance that gets brittle as it dries. Once the eggs have dried out after a period of 10-12 days, they begin to flake off usually while the dragon is flying, spreading the mite's offspring over a vast area.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Feeding solely on blood, dragon mites are known to bury themselves rather deep into dragon's skin in order to feed themselves and prevent their host from detaching them. Typically, they will only make themselves a nuisance to large dragons, as killing their prey is counter productive, however when their intended prey is scarce they are known to latch on to other animals or people.
During feeding, the mites' bodies will swell up with blood stored to digest later, making them many times their typical size when hungry or starved. Once completely filled, they often will detach.
Conservation Status
Least Concern / Invasive
Geographic Distribution
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