Red velvet mite

Leaf litter, loose soil, moss, and other humid ground habitats; often visible after rain.

Adults generally eat small arthropods, insect eggs, and decaying organic matter. Larvae parasitize insects and other arthropods, feeding on body fluids.

Bright red, densely velvety bodies and slow movement are characteristic. They are usually solitary, moisture-active, and spend much of their life in soil or litter.

Harmless to people, pets, plants, and buildings; they do not bite or infest homes. They help decompose organic material and regulate small soil-arthropod populations.