Comments on: The Red Velvet Mite

By: Kenton and Rebecca

Kenton and Rebecca — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:47:09 +0000

Hi Lizette!

They’re EVERYWHERE it seems =) They sure are beautiful and intriguing, aren’t they?

By: Lizette

Lizette — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 06:18:44 +0000

These bugs are also in South Texas. My grandpa told me they were called angel bugs because they always came after the rain which is much needed in our area. It’s nice to know their “real names”.

By: Kenton and Rebecca

Kenton and Rebecca — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 17:13:03 +0000

Hi Lisa!

In Canada too! We haven’t heard of them hosting on animals or humans — could it be possible you’re referring to another animal, perhaps a tick? These are very soft-bodied and delicate, and we’ve handled them many times without them ever biting or doing anything harmful. If they attached on to someone, they’d be squished by the barest bump. These creatures are truly harmless and beautiful.

By: Kenton and Rebecca

Kenton and Rebecca — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 17:11:16 +0000

Hi Sandra,

Funny how they stick in one’s memory, isn’t it? They’re so remarkable . . .

By: Kenton and Rebecca

Kenton and Rebecca — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 17:08:54 +0000

Hi Sumit,

We’re just not sure what to feed them. We imagine that if you took the soil/sticks/leaves/etc. from where you found them, they should be able to obtain food from their imported environment =)

By: Kenton and Rebecca

Kenton and Rebecca — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 17:04:02 +0000

Hi Robert!

These things are all over the place! What remarkable creatures =)

By: robert

robert — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 00:11:07 +0000

Hey everybody. Just got back from my daily hike up in the hills. I live in New Mexico, not Mexico, has nothing to do with Mexico. We are in our monsoon season here and it is slightly wet. I see the red velvet mite every year at this time up in the rocky hills. They are very interesting creatures. When I first saw them I thought they were ticks. I looked them up in the computer and found out that they are mites and related to the spider family. I don’t know what they eat, but I’m assuming they are scavengers. Enjoy them while they are out. They will soon go back into hiding till next years monsoons. Robert

By: Sumit

Sumit — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 07:50:16 +0000

I’ve more than six red velvet mites & i’ve kept them in flower pots. they seem to like their new home. they all went inside the soil at night. they are still in good shape. i want to keep them the same way. can anyone suggest what should i feed them or what would be appropriate food for them. i love them. reply soon…!

By: sandra

sandra — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 16:55:47 +0000

i first saw these little bugs lke 15 years ago in west texas after a soft rain shower. there was so many of them crawling all over the ground. i thought they were soo beautiful! i havent seen them ever since that day and i still sometimes walk around after a rain shower hoping to see one.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 01:15:36 +0000

I live in Canada and I have them in my garden. I noticed then only a couple of weeks ago. I also read that the adult male will host on animals and sometimes humans…. Children are playing with these!!!!!