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Mitesvelvety red something
Location: Lake Chapala, Mexico
August 10, 2010 7:32 am
Hi I encountered this little guy near Lake Chapala in Mexico this past weekend. About 1 cm long, bright red, and fuzzy. Any idea what it might be? THANKS
David Nunez
Velvet Mite
Hi David,
We are amused that your photo was labeled “ask-an-entomologist” because we are merely amateurs with art degrees. As a point of clarification, you should really ask an acarologist who specializes in mites and ticks because you sighted a Velvet Mite in the family Trombidiidae. Velvet Mites are not a threat to humans. According to BugGuide: “Larvae are parasitic on insects. Adults eat insect eggs.“ Velvet Mites are common in arid climates and they often emerge in great numbers after rains.
Thanks, that was fast! And you’re more of an entomologist than I am- haha. Thats actually all the info I need. Congrats on the website.
David A. Nuñez
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