Development of Hemisarcoptes coccophagus Meyer was uninterrupted by a hypopodial stage upon being reared on its prey, healthy armored scale insects (Homoptera: Diaspididae). However, when mite eggs were placed on moribund scales, hypopodes were formed. Over 500 field-collected male and female Chilocorus bipustulatus (L.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), the vector of H. coccophagus, were examined, and an equal Joad of hypopodes was found on both sexes. Hypopodes were significantly attracted to Chilocorus in choice tests, both beetle sexes evoking a simiiar response. Very few hypopodes molted at low or high relative humidities. Mechanism of hypopus induction in H. coccophagus thus resembles that known from sorne stored food mites, but the factors causing hypopus molting appear to be different.