Red blobs on harvestmen

[Dannica]

I've often seen harvestmen with red or orange blobs attached to them. They look as though they'd be very uncomfortable, but don't seem to bother the carriers, even when they are attached to their legs. Are these colourful blips eggs, or even parasites?
D

[Mele]

OOh...look like little mites. Whether they are feeding or just hitching, I don't know. They look like a nuisance all the same. Mel

[triops]

These are the young stages of a "velvet mite" and are parasitic at this stage, feeding on the harvestman.

[Dannica]

So is the harvestman unaware of them? And are mite eggs laid on the harvestman to begin with, or do they attach themselves to a hapless harvestman after hatching? I've seen many harvestmen with a single red mite placed squarely in the centre of its back so there's no way it can be reached by long legs. It is a fascinating relationship.
(An interesting blog entry on the subject: http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2006/05/...re-red-velvet/ )