red velvet mite (trombiculus sp.)

CONTENTS

Fauna index

Mites

Peter K L Ng and N Sivasothi (editors)

Red velvet mite
Trombiculus sp.
Family Trombiculidae

Size: 1 mm

The mite has a body covered with bright red velvety hairs, and is seen on the forest floor and on tree trunks as well. It is predatory on small organisms, possibly including springtails.

Trombiculus sp.

Larval bug which
mimics the mite

It is easy to get Trombiculus confused with a species of bug (Order Hemiptera, Family Miridae) from an undescribed genus whose larve mimics the mite. The bug wanders through the forest floor feeding on microorganisms on the underside of rotting wood. It maintains this orientation even if you flip the piece of wood over - it will crawl underneath to feed upside down!

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What is mangrove?
Introduction

The Ecosystem
Abiotic
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Value
Intro
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About Mangroves
in Singapore
History
Mangroves to visit
Conservation

From "A Guide to Mangroves of Singapore", Peter K. L. Ng and N. Sivasothi (editors)
Volume 1: The Ecosystem and Plant Diversity and Volume 2: Animal Diversity
Authors: Kelvin K. P. Lim, Dennis H. Murphy, T. Morgany, N. Sivasothi, Peter K. L. Ng,
B. C. Soong, Hugh T. W. Tan, K. S. Tan & T. K. Tan
BP Guide to Nature Series published by the Singapore Science Centre, sponsored by British Petroleum
© 2001 Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, The National University of Singapore & The Singapore Science Centre