Beetle nymphs or parasite?

[7tisix]

Is this beetle nymphs on its underside or a parasite? It is alive as of right now. Found it on my back porch.

See full album here http://s64.photobuck.../library/Beetle

 

[Salmonsaladsandwich]

Those are mites hitching a ride to whatever pile of dung or carrion that beetle was headed to.

 

[All About Arthropods]

Those are mites.

 

[All About Arthropods]

Those are mites hitching a ride to whatever pile of dung or carrion that beetle was headed to.

Posted that comment the exact second that I did. lol

 

[Salmonsaladsandwich]

They don't harm the beetle. In carrion beetles they're symbiotic, I don't know about this guy though. I don't know my scarabs, he's most likely a dung feeder but some dung beetles eat carrion.

 

[7tisix]

Ok, I was going to wash them off but I figured I'd ask you guys first. I'll let him go with the mites intact. Thanks

 

[Allpet Roaches]

I have not seen a living Geotrupidae, earth boring beetle. How big was he?

 

[7tisix]

I guess it was about an inch long.