Trombidiidae

Red velvet mite
Trombidium sp.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Subclass:	Acari
Order:	Trombidiformes
Suborder:	Prostigmata
Superfamily:	Trombidioidea
Family:	Trombidiidae

Red Velvet Mites or Rain Bugs are arachnids found in soil litter known for their bright red colours but are often mistaken for spiders. They are active predators as grown adults but as early instars are often parasites on insects and some arachnids.

The pattern of stages is shared with that of 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.

One well known species from the Palearctic is Trombidium holosericeum.

The systematics of this group has been in flux and many former subfamilies of this are now raised to families within the Trombidioidea.

The oil from the red velvet mite Trombidium grandissimum is used in traditional Indian medicine to treat paralysis. "

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Wikipedia