Let’s have a little fun, a little learning and a little YIKES! today with the RED VELVET MITE:

What looks like a tiny, red velvet thumbprint?

The Red Velvet Mite, of course.

The Red Velvet Mite is considered an arachnid and is a member of the subphylum Chelicerata, which derives from the Greek word meaning crab’s claws. The Red Velvet Mite has tiny lobster-like claws like that of a scorpion or spider.  Its claws are its mouth parts.

In the case of the Red Velvet Mite, tiny means tiny.  It is less than a millimeter in length (1/8 inch, including legs).  These are the little guys that can be seen scrambling along leaves, logs, woodlands like tiny, moving dots… and you have to get really, really close to see them.

Up close, the Red Velvet Mite is egg-shaped, 8-legged and covered with tiny, tiny red hairs/feelers.  These hair/feelers are what makes it look like red velvet.

The beautiful red color of the Red Velvet Mite is nature’s warning to predators to stay away, indicative of a nasty taste.

The Red Velvet Mite feeds on insects that eat fungi and bacteria, and is known to help in the decomposition of soil.  This is a good thing.  It does not bite or harm human beings.

Introduce your kids and grandkids to the Red Velvet Mite.  There’s a good chance you’ve all seen one, or dozens of them, scurrying around your yard or even along wood/cement.  The Red Velvet Mite is known for its elaborate mating ritual, if you want to share that with the kids.  YIKES!