The Trombidiidae family of arachnids are recognizable for their bright red coloring and velvety texture. As members of the class Arachnida, they are related to spiders and have eight legs in their adult stage. They are distributed globally, inhabiting diverse terrestrial environments from grasslands to forests.
Identification and Habitat
A red velvet mite’s vibrant coloration serves as a warning to potential predators that they are unpalatable. Their bodies are covered in a dense layer of fine hairs, known as setae, giving them their characteristic velvety texture. This coating also helps the mites retain moisture. Adult velvet mites are large for their kind, with most species measuring around 4 to 5 millimeters in length.
These mites are most encountered in moist soil, forest floors, and among leaf litter, where they hunt for food. Their frequent appearance after rain has earned them the name “rain bugs,” as the increased humidity provides favorable conditions for activity. The front pair of their eight legs are often used as feelers to navigate their surroundings.
The Complex Life Cycle
The life cycle begins when a female lays eggs in the soil, which remain dormant until moisture triggers them to hatch. From the egg emerges a six-legged larval stage. This larval stage is parasitic and seeks out a host, which is another arthropod like a grasshopper or spider.
After this parasitic phase, the mite progresses through several nymphal stages before reaching adulthood. Once they become deutonymphs and adults, their behavior shifts to that of free-living predators hunting in the soil. Their diet consists of smaller invertebrates and the eggs of various insects, which contributes to the balance of their local ecosystem. The entire life cycle from egg to reproducing adult completes within a single year.
Distinguishing from Other Mites
People often confuse these bright red arachnids with harmful chiggers. The mites responsible for itchy bites on humans belong to the Trombiculidae family, whereas velvet mites are from the Trombidiidae family. The primary distinguishing factor is their size. Adult velvet mites are easily visible to the naked eye, while chigger larvae, the stage that bites vertebrates, are microscopic.
Their larval hosts are also different. Velvet mite larvae are parasites of insects and other arachnids. Chigger larvae, however, feed on the skin cells of vertebrates, including humans, which causes intense itching and red welts. Velvet mites and their larvae pose no threat to humans, as they prey on small invertebrates and their eggs, not people.