''Trombidium breei'' is a species of red

mite Mites are small arachnids (eight-legged arthropods). Mites span two large orders of arachnids, the Acariformes and the Parasitiformes, which were historically grouped together in the subclass Acari, but genetic analysis does not show clear evid ...

in the genus ''

Trombidium ''Trombidium'' is a genus of mite with about 30 described species. Species * '' Trombidium auroraense'' Vercammen-Grandjean, Van Driesche & Gyrisco, 1977 – New York * '' Trombidium breei'' Southcott, 1986 – Europe (host: ''Agapetes galathea ...

'' in the family

Trombidiidae Trombidiidae, also known as red velvet mites, true velvet mites, or rain bugs, are small arachnids (eight-legged arthropods) found in plant litter and are known for their bright red color. While adults are typically in length, some, such as t ...

. It is found in Europe. The

larva A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle. Th ...

e are parasites/

hosts A host is a person responsible for guests at an event or for providing hospitality during it. Host may also refer to: Places *Host, Pennsylvania, a village in Berks County People * Jim Host (born 1937), American businessman * Michel Host ...

of certain butterflies ( Lepidoptera), particularly meadow brown (''

Maniola jurtina The meadow brown (''Maniola jurtina'') is a butterfly found in the Palearctic realm. Its range includes Europe south of 62°N, Russia eastwards to the Urals, Asia Minor, Iraq, Iran, North Africa and the Canary Islands. The larvae feed on grasse ...

''), gatekeeper (''

Pyronia tithonus ''Pyronia'' is a genus of butterflies from the subfamily Satyrinae in the family Nymphalidae. Description These butterflies have vestigial forelegs that cannot be used for walking. Male forelegs exhibit 2 tarsal joints, while female forelegs h ...

''), marbled white (''

Melanargia galathea ''Melanargia galathea'', the marbled white, is a medium-sized butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. Despite its common name and appearance, this butterfly is one of the "browns", of the subfamily Satyrinae. This species can be found across most ...

''), common blue (''

Polyommatus icarus The common blue butterfly or European common blue (''Polyommatus icarus'') is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae and subfamily Polyommatinae. The butterfly is found throughout the Palearctic. Butterflies in the Polyommatinae are collectively c ...

'') and small skipper (''

Thymelicus sylvestris The small skipper (''Thymelicus sylvestris'') is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. Appearance It has a rusty orange colour to the wings, upper body and the tips of the antennae. The body is silvery white below and it has a wingspan of 25� ...

''). They attach themselves to the thorax or legs of the butterfly and transfer from host to host when the butterflies alight to nectar at flowers.

References

* Synopsis of the described Arachnida of the World
Trombidiidae

Name

The species is named after Reverend William Thomas Bree (1754–1822).

References

Name

Further reading