phoresis

thumb|Pseudogarypus synchrotron Henderickx et al. 2012 specimen in Baltic amber.thumb|Male Bombus hypnorum with phoretic mites. [[Botevgrad, Bulgaria.]] thumb|Pseudoscorpion hitching a ride on a fly thumb|A pseudoscorpion on the leg of a crane fly

Phoresis or phoresy is a temporary commensalistic relationship when an organism (a phoront or phoretic) attaches itself to a host organism solely for travel. It has been seen in ticks and mites since the 18th century, and in fossils 320 million years old. It is not restricted to arthropods or animals; plants with seeds that disperse by attaching themselves to animals are also considered to be phoretic.