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Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

Red Velvet Mites

Families: Trombidiidae and Erythraeidae

Balaustium spp.
Click to enlarge.

Beginner

Scientific Names
Balaustium spp. (Erythraeidae) and Allothrombium spp. (Trombidiidae)

Identification

  • Common in Ontario orchards.
  • Ranging from 0.3 mm to 2 mm in length and readily visible to the naked eye.
  • Fast moving.
  • Typically seen on leaves, fruit and the trunk of tree, may be seen foraging within the understory.

Balaustium:

  • Large.
  • Bright coloured (typically red, but also reddish brown or orange).
  • Tick-like shape and a dense velvet like covering.

Allothrombium:

  • Bright red mites but have fewer hairs.
  • Bodies covered by short hairs that give them a velvety appearance. 

Often Confused With

  • European red mite adult females – European red mite females are 0.4 mm, red velvet mites are much larger and lack the rows of raised spines on their backs.

Interaction With Host
Balaustium spp. are good predators and will feed on anything they can outrun and overpower.

Period of Activity
Nymphs emerge in early May and the mites remain on fruit trees throughout the season.

Insects attacked
Common prey items include the eggs and the early instars of caterpillars, beetles, flies, aphids, leafhoppers, scale insects and other mites.  Pollen is also consumed.

Monitoring and Management
Keep an eye out for red velvet mites on leaves and fruit during crop scouting. Red velvet mites may eat up to 40 adult two spotted spider mites per day.

Advanced

Scientific Names
Balaustium spp. (Erythraeidae) and Allothrombium spp. (Trombidiidae)

Identification
Red velvet mites are common predators in Ontario orchards. They are conspicuous due to their large size – ranging from 0.3 mm to 2 mm in length and are readily visible to the naked eye. Balaustium are bright coloured (typically red, but also reddish brown or orange) mites with a tick like shape and a dense velvet like covering. Allothrombium are bright red mites but have fewer hairs. As indicated by the common general name given to the group, their bodies are covered by short hairs that give them a velvety appearance. 

Often Confused With

  • European red mite adult females – European red mite females are 0.4 mm, red velvet mites are much larger and lack the rows of raised spines on their backs.

Interaction With Host
Velvet mites have varied and sometimes complex biologies. Some species are ectoparasites in the early life stages, becoming predators in later stages and as adults. Balaustium spp. are good predators and will feed on anything they can outrun and overpower. One of the more common reported species, Balaustium putmani (1-2 mm), overwinters as an egg underneath bark and other protected areas.

Period of Activity
Nymphs emerge in early May and the mites remain on fruit trees throughout the season.

Insects Attacked
Common prey items include the eggs and the early instars of caterpillars, beetles, flies, aphids, leafhoppers, scale insects and other mites. Pollen is also consumed.

Monitoring and Management
Keep an eye out for red velvet mites on leaves and fruit during crop scouting. Members of this group are fast moving and are typically seen on leaves, fruit and trunks of trees, though they may also be observed foraging within the understory and on other orchard plants. Red velvet mites may eat up to 40 adult two spotted spider mites per day.