Red Velvet Mite

Description:

Velvet mites are arachnids found in soil litter known for their bright red colours but are often mistaken for spiders. They are active predators as grown adults but early instars are often parasites on insects. The pattern of stages is shared with that of other members of the Prostigmata: egg, pre-larva, larva, protonymph, deutonymph, tritonymph and adult (male or female). They usually have only one breeding cycle per year. One well known species from the Palearctic is Trombidium holosericeum. The systematics of this group has been in flux and many former subfamilies of this are now raised to families within the Trombidioidea.

Habitat:

Woodlands, soil litter.

Notes:

Description from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trombidiida...