Velvet On The Ground

Wayne from Toodyay sent in this picture recently, wondering what it could be.

 
This critter appears to be a Velvet Mite (Order Acarina) which are reputed to come out from under the leaf litter after rain and prey on grasshoppers and aphids!! The picture here shows the free-roaming adult in search of small invertebrates for dinner!

Velvet Mites are known from across the world but there is little known about their ecology or life-cycle in Western Australia.

With the rain over the last month or so, the bush is really starting to come alive with more amazing critters! This 'Other 99%' of our fauna is often overlooked when we think of the bush, but play a vital role in the nutrient and decomposition cycles.