Velvet Mite

red velvet bug I think it is a spider….
Location:  Cabo San Lucas Mexico
September 22, 2010 10:27 pm
When I first saw this bug I thought it was a beetle, but when I saw the photo I took I believe it is a spider, I like to know if it is a spider, which spider, and if it is dangerous, I live in Cabo San Lucas México, and we got some dangerous ones such as violinist and brown widows. I saw it just after a tropical storm. Thanks so much for your help.
Signature:  dattoli

Dear dattoli,
You don’t realize how close you were to self identifying this Velvet Mite in the family Trombidiidae.  Velvet Mites and Spiders are both classified as Arachnids.  Velvet Mites often appear in great numbers after a rain.  According to BugGuide:  “Larvae are parasitic on insects. Adults eat insect eggs.”  According to Charles Hogue in Insects of the Los Angeles Basin, Velvet Mites are known as Angelitos.

Thanks for your prompt and accurate response, I am very impressed for all your work, I had consult your web page several times before and it has been very useful and I have learn  a lot from you.
Muchas gracias!