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Red Velvet Mite


Red Velvet Mite
Photo Information
Copyright: John Denk (jpdenk) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 265 W: 1 N: 396] (1076)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-04-30
Categories: Spiders
Camera: Nikon D70, Micro Nikkor AF60mm f2.8
Exposure: f/32, 1/60 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-02-28 6:59
Viewed: 637
Points: 16
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Red Velvet Mite, family Trombidiidae. This tiny (1-3mm) creature is a common inhabitant of woodlands, living in the leaf and wood litter on the forest floor. As larvae, they are parasites, feeding on a variety of arthropods. As nymphs and adults, they become predators, and consume other mites and their eggs, the eggs of insects and snails, and primitive wingless insects.

Many of their prey species consume bacteria and fungi, which are very important for breaking down dead wood and leaves, so Red Velvet Mites contribute to the breakdown of organic material in the forest by consuming the species that consume the things that break down organic material on the forest floor, thus stimulating the decomposition process.

I've cropped the original photo by quite a bit to get a decent-sized image of this mite, and hope to get better images of this little creature in the coming year.

I've listed it in the "Spiders" category as that's the closest that I could get, that's closer than "Insects", in my opinion. This is an Arachnid, but it isn't a spider.

We definitely need more categories for listing photos.
mariki, cataclysta, Ena, mesquens, boreocypriensis has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To foozi: Thanksjpdenk 1 08-31 10:40
To boreocypriensis: Thanksjpdenk 1 05-27 14:28
To Tlapp: Thanksjpdenk 1 04-08 07:20
To mesquens: Thank youjpdenk 1 04-02 17:28
To Ena: Thanksjpdenk 1 04-02 17:28
To kebapci: Thanks Umitjpdenk 1 02-29 07:10
To cataclysta: Thanksjpdenk 1 02-28 12:55
To mariki: Thanksjpdenk 1 02-28 09:18
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi John
This is a very nice shot. Maybe not perfectly sharp but interesting. I like vivid mite on a green carpet. Mites are rare on TN. Maybe you could change the composition and crop it little bit from the left and from the bottom
Best wishes
Krzysztof

Red as a flame! THe word can be used to define. Congraduations for cute little sucker (not for slang) with great DOF, POV and compo.

Hello John,

Very good sharp picture of this red velvet mite. Very nice composition. Very beautiful light and colours.
Very well done,
Cheers,
Mariki

  • Great 
  • Ena Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 359 W: 61 N: 570] (2341)
  • [2008-03-02 2:30]
  • [+]

Hi John,
Nice little animal!
Beautiful colors!
TFS
Ena

Hi John,
A very interesting contrast of colors. I had loved the red of this mite.
Congrat.
Raimundo

  • Great 
  • Tlapp Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 22 W: 5 N: 19] (108)
  • [2008-04-07 9:07]
  • [+]

Wow! Finally! I met this guy once and I couldn't figure out what it was! Thanks for the pic (which is very good by the way)and explanation!
Rafal

Woww.. I missed this excellen shot my dear friend John! Sorry. A parasitic insect! I think it is Trombicula autumnalis? You captured this minute creature in excellent way. TFS. Cheers,

Bayram

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 241 W: 0 N: 210] (966)
  • [2008-08-31 1:00]
  • [+]

Hello John,
a very unique creature. Well shot in great clarity and sharpness.
Well composed against the green plants.
thanks for sharing.

regards,
Foozi

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