Post-rain-emergence
Guides
Dinothrombium
Giant Velvet Mites, Red Velvet Mites
Dinothrombium is a genus of large predatory mites in the family Trombidiidae, commonly called giant velvet mites. Adults are among the largest mites in the world, with some species reaching 12–14 mm in body length. They are fossorial, spending most of their lives underground in soil or sand, and emerge only after heavy rainfall. Their bright red coloration appears to serve an aposematic function, warning predators of their chemical defenses.