Bridge Mites

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.