Red stranger – The velvet mite

Yesterday, when I went to take a look at my orchids in living room, if they needed watering, I saw something red crawling around on the window. At first I thought it’s a tick (Ixodoidea), but it was too big and it was red. Then I thought, that it was the red spider mite (Tetranychus urticae), but again it was too big. 

And my next first thought was ‘Where the hell did this thing come from?’.

So, I went online and straight to the Bamboo Forum and posted the picture there. Soon Alan Lorence, whose blog I also read, pointed out the name and I did some research.  

This is the red velvet mite (most likely Trombidium holosericeum). I have learned that this is one of the largest mites in northern temperature zones. Its body is covered with tiny red hairs that give that effect of velvety. It is about 5mm big. Usually it's found in soil or mulch, meaning I probably brought it with the moss, that I used for the traditional nativity scene, we put up every Christmas.

They feed on vegetable matter, but in the larval stage (they have only six legs then), they suck on the blood of animals and sometimes humans.

Anyway, these animals are very important for the environment and forest ground ecosystem, because they play a role in decomposing process.

It’s just to bad, that my mom found it, before I got to know what it is.


So, read you next time!


Uroš