Categories

Angelitos picture and question?
They pose not threat?so if I touch it it wont burn?it sure looks like it would.this pic was taken in south texas around mission.if you look at the pic upside down it looks like a face on it.locals call it an angel face.thanks for your site it is really helpful.

To the best of our knowledge, Angelitos or Velvet Mites do not pose a threat to humans. The do feed on the eggs of grasshoppers and on termites. Thanks for your local lore on this distinctive arthropod.

Update: (11/25/2007)
Some additional information on the velvet mite.
There was a Nova episode the other week on killer ants[0] and in it there was some good information on the velvet mite. The people in Cameroon use the first appearance of the velvet mite as a sign that it is time to clear the fields and start planting their millet crops. If the mite is comming out that means it will rain soon.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova /ants/

Related Posts

1. Gall on California Black Walnut Tree: Velvet Gall Mite??? (May 2, 2008)
2. Velvet Mite (April 7, 2008)
3. Velvet Mite from Australia (March 10, 2007)
4. Velvet Mites (October 23, 2006)
5. Unknown Mite from Vasquez Rocks (April 21, 2009)