Velvet Mite Trombidiidae species
Identification
This mite is bright red and velvety.
Location
Common statewide
Size
One eighth inch
Diet
It feeds on small arthropods and eggs.
Habitat
It occurs in soil and leaf litter.
Activity Period
May to September
Behavior
It is predatory and beneficial. It is active in warm months.
Lifecycle
Breeding occurs in summer.
Population
The population is stable statewide.
History
It has long been widespread in Ohio.
Human Interactions
It does not bite humans.
Facts
It is sometimes called the rain bug.
Sources
ODNR NatureServe
Small arthropods eggs | Soil leaf litter forests | Statewide