bright Red Insect (spider) can anyone identify

[buffyliz]

My husband found this insect in the garden yeaterday and we have tried in vain to identify it. Can anyone help.

It is brilliant tomato red, with a body approximately 5mm long, and has 8 legs (hence the fact we thinnk it's a spider).

[Ukwildlifeo]

Its a velvet mite, an arachnid. I saw some emerging yesterday

[caladina]

me too, saw some two weeks ago and again yesterday

[Bruce Williams]

I come across this amazingly bright little character hiding away under logs from time to time. As already said, it's a velvet mite. If you want to do a bit of Googling you could also try using it's scientific name Trombidium holosericeum.

There was a recent post by macro junkie that showed an excellent close-up image and gave a bit of general info. Check out: http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/fo...osericeum.html

Bruce

[buffyliz]

Thanks Bruce,

I've never seen one before, thought he was beautiful.

[binky]

Originally Posted by buffyliz

My husband found this insect in the garden yeaterday and we have tried in vain to identify it. Can anyone help.

It is brilliant tomato red, with a body approximately 5mm long, and has 8 legs (hence the fact we thinnk it's a spider).

I too have found the red spider you mention and was unable to identify it.
Found adult and young in garden. I'm now going to look up Trombidium holosericeum as suggested in another quote. Quite beautiful!