Velvet mites

A general term for large mites of the family Trombidiidae, order Acari, suborder Trombidiidae, class Arachnida, phylum Arthropoda. They are 1-3 mm long, bright red, red or red-orange in color, and have a carpet-like covering of short hairs. Most have one or two pairs of eyes at the front of their backs. Their palps are thick, and the appendages of the first leg are also thick. They are common in mountainous areas, living on the ground, under fallen leaves, or among moss. Their large size and bright colors catch the eye of passersby. They prey on insect eggs and small insects. Their larvae live a completely different lifestyle from the adults, and parasitize insects. Over 300 species are known worldwide, and at least a dozen species are found in Japan, including Camerotrombium takii and Paratrombium bidactylus .

In a broad sense, it refers to the suborder Prostigmata (Prostigmata), which includes a variety of mites such as the predatory Proboscis mites and chigger mites, the chigger that transmits scrub typhus, spider mites and gall mites known as agricultural and forestry pests, and the aquatic water mites.

[Junichi Aoki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

節足動物門クモ綱ダニ目ケダニ亜目ナミケダニ科Trombidiidaeの大形ダニの総称。体長1～3ミリメートル、全体に鮮紅色、赤色、赤橙(せきとう)色などで、全身にじゅうたんのように短い毛を密生する。背面前方に1対または2対の目をもつものが多い。触肢(しょくし)は太く、第1脚の付節も太い。山地に多く、地表、落葉下、コケの間などにすみ、大形で色彩がはでなため、歩いている人の目にもとまる。昆虫の卵や小さな虫を捕食する。幼虫は成虫とはまったく異なる生活をし、昆虫に寄生する。全世界に300種以上知られ、日本にはタキケダニCamerotrombidium takii、フタゲケダニParatrombium bidactylusなど少なくとも十数種いる。

　広義にはケダニ亜目（前気門亜目）を意味し、この場合には、捕食性のテングダニやツメダニ、ツツガムシ病を媒介するツツガムシ、農林害虫として知られるハダニやフシダニ、水中生活をするミズダニなど、さまざまなダニが含まれる。

［青木淳一］

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