Difficult to actually confirm the identity of the species for sure. There are a number of similar looking mites but this is believed to be the most widespread and common. The velvet appearance is as you would expect due to a covering of fine hairs.
We come across this species frequently, foraging for small animals or their pupae / eggs to feed upon. These are active hunting arachnids found across the garden in all types of habitats other than water. The video below shows a wandering specimen, out looking for a meal perhaps.
It was in September 2021 that we recorded how these mites killed a Comma butterfly whilst in the pupae stage (click HERE to read more about this behaviour).
In April 2022 we witnessed a small group of these mites completely destroy the full egg brood of a Nut-tree Tussock moth, see video below.
DC 16/04/2022
Wildlife Garden 