| Trombidiidae Temporal range:
| |
|---|---|
| |
| Trombidium sp. | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Trombidiformes |
| Superfamily: | Trombidioidea |
| Family: | Trombidiidae Leach, 1815[1] |
Trombidiidae, also known as red velvet mites, true velvet mites,[2] or rain bugs, are small arachnids (eight-legged arthropods) found in plant litter and are known for their bright red color.
While adults are typically no more than 4 mm (0.16 in) in length, some species can grow larger and the largest, including the African Dinothrombium tinctorum and Indian Trombidium grandissimum, may exceed 12 mm (0.47 in).[2][3][4] This also makes them the largest mites, if disregarding ticks engorged after feeding;[5] unlike those, D. tinctorum and T. grandissimum are harmless to humans.[3][4]
Their life pattern is in stages similar to other members of the Prostigmata: egg, pre-larva, larva, protonymph, deutonymph, tritonymph and adult (male or female). They usually have only one breeding cycle per year.[6]
They are active predators as grown adults. As larvae they are often parasites of insects[7] and other arachnids.[8] This lifestyle is typical of the Parasitengona.[9]
One well-known species from Europe, Asia, and North Africa is Trombidium holosericeum.[10] The systematics of this group has been in flux and many former subfamilies of this are now raised to families within the Trombidioidea.[6][11]
