Wikipedia:Featured picture candidates/Field Bindweed flower with velvet mites

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[edit] Field Bindweed flower with velvet mites

White flower of Convolvulus arvensis with tiny red velvet mites (Trombidium spec.) and unknown beetle. The plant, commonly known as Field Bindweed, is a noxious and extremely invasive weed, difficult to control due to its extensive root system. Red velvet mites are small arachnids with tiny lobster-like claws that serve as mouthparts. They live in the soil, leaf litter or plants, depending on the species, and prey on small insects and eggs, or parasite the plants. The body is covered with red hair, giving the appearance of velvet. The saturated colours may warn possible predators to its unpleasant taste.
White flower of Convolvulus arvensis with tiny red velvet mites (Trombidium spec.) and unknown beetle. The plant, commonly known as Field Bindweed, is a noxious and extremely invasive weed, difficult to control due to its extensive root system. Red velvet mites are small arachnids with tiny lobster-like claws that serve as mouthparts. They live in the soil, leaf litter or plants, depending on the species, and prey on small insects and eggs, or parasite the plants. The body is covered with red hair, giving the appearance of velvet. The saturated colours may warn possible predators to its unpleasant taste.
Reason
Unusual and beatiful picture of velvet mites on a flower, adding enc value to the articles
Articles this image appears in
Acariformes, Convolvulus arvensis
Creator
Joaquim Alves Gaspar
  • Support as nominator — Alvesgaspar 11:21, 28 May 2007 (UTC)
  • Comment - What's the other little critter in there? --TotoBaggins 14:35, 28 May 2007 (UTC)
    • Comment - A beetle for sure, but I can't identify it. - Alvesgaspar 14:39, 28 May 2007 (UTC)
  • Ruefully oppose - I really want to support this, since it's just so enc. and fascinating and such a lovely picture, but the poor focus and lack of detail on the mites is a showstopper for me. :( --TotoBaggins 18:08, 28 May 2007 (UTC)
What's blurry, TotoBaggins? I don't think I'd be able to see more detail on the mites in real life than I see in this image, so I don't mind the lack of detail. Enuja 01:48, 29 May 2007 (UTC)
  • Support I really wish the two articles had more information in them, and that this image contributed more centrally to them, but I do think this image does have real informational content. Maybe this candidacy will convince one of us to expand those articles! If I knew what the mites were doing on the flower, I would add this image to the relevant page(s). Oh well. I still think it's a beautiful image, good technical quality, with a lot of informational content. Enuja 01:45, 29 May 2007 (UTC)
  • Mild oppose. I can almost see this having a place in an article about pesticides, or organic farming, or parasitism/commensalism. Samsara (talk • contribs) 13:24, 29 May 2007 (UTC)

Not promoted MER-C 09:25, 5 June 2007 (UTC)