Red velvet mite (Callidosomatinae)
Some of the red velvet mites in Australia are very large compared to overseas. This one was 10-12mm overall.
They are beneficial keeping other pests at bay by either actively predating them as adults or parasitising them as hatchlings.
The larvae are often seen as tiny orange balls stuck to other insects. This is a parasitic stage. They then drop off and after resting a bit develop into active predatory nymphs. Later, after another rest period, they become fully predatory adults, feeding on small invertebrates and their eggs. Interestingly the larvae of these arachnids have only three pairs of legs.
Not fully studied yet but a local 'expert' gave me this ...
order: TROMBIDIFORMES
suborder: PROSTIGMATA
infraorder: PARASITENGONINA
superfamily: ERYTHRAEOIDEA
family: Erythraeidae
subfamily: Callidosomatinae
genus: Charletonia or Callidosoma
No species identified
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