#Dinothrombium

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The first giant red velvet mites of the season.

They don't look very fearsome, but these little fluffballs are predators. They live underground, and the adults only emerge after heavy rain to hunt for swarming termites. You can read more about them at BugGuide.

Cochise County, Arizona, July 4, 2024.

[entomoblog]

À la rencontre d'un arthropode qui a le goût (amer) de la quinine et du piment habanero !

See on Scoop.it - EntomoNews

Known as the "King of Sting," Justin Schmidt has dedicated his life to the study of insects, mostly the stinging kind. In a recent paper, he explores giant velvet mites – elusive creatures of the arachnid family. Among his discoveries: Virtually no one wants to eat them, suggesting the mites have to contend with few, if any, predators. 

  Meet the bug that tastes 'like quinine with habanero'

By Daniel Stolte, University Communications

Jan. 23, 2023

  [Image] A giant velvet mite with its favorite prey, a winged termite. Jillian Cowles

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NDÉ

Traduction

  Surnommé le "roi de la piqûre", Justin Schmidt a consacré sa vie à l'étude des insectes, surtout ceux qui piquent. Dans un récent article, il a publié l'aboutissement de plus de 30 ans de recherche sur les acariens géants du velours - des créatures insaisissables de la famille des arachnides.

  Parmi ses découvertes : Pratiquement personne ne veut les manger, ce qui suggère que les acariens doivent faire face à peu de prédateurs, voire aucun.

Qu'est-ce qui est velouté, rouge, de la taille d'un pois et que l'on peut voir courir sur le sol dans le désert du Sud-Ouest après une pluie torrentielle ? Si vous n'en avez aucune idée, vous n'êtes pas seul. Selon Justin Schmidt, chercheur adjoint au département d'entomologie de l'université d'Arizona, les acariens géants du velours sont des créatures si insaisissables qu'on en sait peu sur elles.

  M. Schmidt, que l'on a surnommé "le roi de la piqûre" en raison de ses exploits à travers le monde à la recherche d'insectes piqueurs, s'intéresse à ces acariens dans un article récemment publié qu'il a cosigné avec sa femme, Li Schmidt. Il qualifie cet article, publié dans le Journal of Arachnology, de "point culminant de plus de 30 ans de recherche sur les acariens géants de velours".

  University of Arizona News s'est entretenu avec Schmidt au sujet des découvertes surprenantes qu'il a faites en observant ces minuscules arachnides, en les opposant à des prédateurs et... en les goûtant.

  L'étude

  Big, bad, and red: Giant velvet mite defenses and life strategies (Trombidiformes: Trombidiidae: Dinothrombium) - The Journal of Arachnology, 10.08.2022 https://bioone.org/journals/the-journal-of-arachnology/volume-50/issue-2/JoA-S-21-019/Big-bad-and-red--Giant-velvet-mite-defenses-and/10.1636/JoA-S-21-019.full

[terranlifeform]

Giant red velvet mite (Dinothrombium sp.) in Ghana

Charles Sharp

[cinnabarts]

been a while but ITS TIME FOR ADOPTS!! made these designs based on some very cool arthropods and i hope they get good homes :] all payment is in usd through paypal! more info+transcription of image text under the cut

Red Carpet Rainbug (Dinothrombium): $50

Weevil Wizard (Pachyrhynchus argus): $60

Bass Beetle (Phanaeus vindex): $50

SOLD! Masked Moth (Idalus herois): $50

[psikonauti]

Giant Red Velvet Mite (Dinothrombium sp) by Charles Sharp

[cedar-glade]

Arachnids on the prowl! During spring as the ground water percolates up and dormancy starts to break, the forest floors’ microbiota starts letting the food foundation become a solidified part of the ecosystem once more. With this upwelling and microbiome alive and well many arthropods become more active. As the soil becomes more saturated with snow melt and spring rains and nutrient cycles churn we can see these little fuzzy dudes appearing.

    This is a giant red velvet mite or red rain bug,  Dinothrombium sp.,  which is most likely searching for eggs or termites. It gets  it’s second name from it appearing after heavy rainfalls the first common name is just based on appearance. This species isn’t terrifically known to be found commonly in Ohio; however, I live in southern Ohio so it’s not surprising to find one.

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The first peppermint mite* of monsoon season.  Coronado National Memorial, Cochise County Arizona, July 4, 2021.

* It’s really just a red velvet mite with different coloration, but these look like Starlight Peppermints to me, and I always think of them that way.

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Red velvet mites after one of the first big monsoon storms.  Coronado National Memorial, July 4, 2021.

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