What are those teeny tiny red spiders called?

Question

You know the ones that find there way into dusty old books?
Are they even spiders? and why are they so bright? Surely they would be more camoflaged as beige?

Answer 1

They are called Red Velvet Mites,
Spider mites are different. Spider mites are a problem for house plants but they are not red.

The presence of red velvet mites is extremely important to the environment. These mites are part of a community of soil arthropods that is critical in terms of rates of decomposition in woodlands and in maintaining the structure of the entire ecosystem.

By feeding on insects that eat fungi and bacteria, they stimulate the decomposition process. And when they are removed from the area, many critical processes in the soil go much slower

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What are those teeny tiny red spiders called?
You know the ones that find there way into dusty old books?
Are they even spiders? and why are they so bright? Surely they would be more camoflaged as beige?

Answer 3

I've come across something that sounds very similar, and when younger used to call them "money spiders". Don't know what their scientific name is.

Possibly they are a kind of mites. might even be an insect. Thysanura such as silver fish can often be found in old books (but not found one which matches your description.)

Use a Dichotomous Key system if you want to figure it out for yourself.

You could immobilise/kill some by getting them onto a piece of paper then dropping them in to glass of clear strong alcoholic spirit, such a vodka. Then use a piece of paper to fish them out again, after they stop moving. A magnifying glass or microscope will enable you to look at them more closely.

Answer 4

When I was a kid I remember tiny red spiders outside in our garden. We called them money spiders but others called them blood spiders but I never saw these in a book so probably different ones.

Answer 5

Spider Mites ?

Answer 6

Maybe you mean spider mites. They are very tiny like as small as the period in this sentence. They live on plants and can damage the leaves. They can be pretty destructive.

Answer 7

Most likely what you are referring to isn't a spider but a type of insect called a "mite". Sometimes they are called a "spider mite".
They do not build webs and they are vegetarian.

Answer 8

Do you mean those red squishy things? Well if yes red spider mites.

Answer 9

Spider mites? but what about the rest of the questions? what's the point of them? what do they do except eat leaves? Oh sorry, I'm sposed to answer not ask more questions aren't I?

Answer 10

red spider mites.... they arent spiders...