An unfortunate soldier beetle rests on a leaf with a parasitic mite attached to its head

I figured a lot of people were going into the first Monday coming off a vacation (at least in the U.S.), and that this photo might resonate. That red blob on the head of the beetle is an engorged mite, getting fat and happy. Seeing it makes me think of ticks, and if one is not careful, the imagination can make the proportional leap between a beetle’s head and a person’s.

Anyway, I hope it’s all smooth sailing this Monday, with no headaches or ticks or mites weighing you down.