Cool pictures!! I have never seen those insects before. Very nice.
www.fredjsmilek.com

“The only value one might ascribe to a panda in terms of conservation, that a panda mite would not also possess, is charisma and aesthetic appeal...”

Really? I'd expect that a pandas' extinction would have many more far reaching and profound environmental reverberations that that of its parasite. Regardless of speculation, interesting as it is, concerning loss of specialists possibly opening the door to more destructive generalists.

Insofar as parasites and mutualists being unrepresented in conservation efforts, isn't it simply true that if you save the endangered host/pollinator you also ensure the survival of its dependents? Why further complicate the already difficult political process of translating environmental degradation into effective policy? Which isn't to say that we don't need to broaden our understanding of the role of these relationships in ecosystems.

The Sumatran insect reminds me of the woolly beach blight aphid.

C.M.