Velvet mites

[arachnocat]

Do you think it's possible to keep these in captivity? I thought they might be interesting pets. Was wondering if anyone here keeps them.

 

[cacoseraph]

babies pass through arthropod vampire stage. scared me off.

VELVET MITE
http://chicagowildernessmag.org/issues/fall2004/mite.html
"Sensitive to humidity and apt to dry out easily, red velvet mites make their home in the litter layer of woodlands and forests. They live from one to several years, Hammond says, depending on the species. As larvae, they attach themselves to a variety of arthropods and feed parasitically. They will suck blood from a gnat or grasshopper, for instance, sometimes hitching a ride with several other mites. When red velvet mites become nymphs and then adults, they take to the soil to devour much smaller prey, including other mites and their eggs, the eggs of insects and snails, and primitive wingless insects. Unlike their brethren the chigger and the tick, the velvets keep their mouthparts off of humans."
These might come in handy in mite control in other pets cages... the adults should eat the annoying grain mites. We shall have to see if the larvae are too destructive to risk using these mites as controls though... should be fun to culture at any rate

zoom

zoom

 

[DITB]

i see these outside durring the warmer months all the time. they are very interesting indeed....

 

[Choobaine]

I've allways been fascinated by them. But then, I've been fascinated by a slightly above average shiny spoon.

They look quite fun!