What are the defining characteristics of adult mites?

What are the defining characteristics of adult mites?

• A. One body region; eight legs; no wings; no antennae.
• B. Three body regions; six legs; wings.
• C. Two body regions; eight legs; wings.
• D. One body region; six legs; wings absent.

Answer: (A)

Adult mites are arachnids, not insects. As adults they have eight legs and lack wings and antennae, and their body is compact rather than divided into multiple distinct regions like many insects. This combination—one consolidated body region, eight legs, and no wings or antennae—is what distinguishes adult mites. The other options would imply insects (three body regions and six legs, or wings) or suggest an incorrect number of legs for adults, which doesn’t fit mite anatomy.

Adult mites are arachnids, not insects. As adults they have eight legs and lack wings and antennae, and their body is compact rather than divided into multiple distinct regions like many insects. This combination—one consolidated body region, eight legs, and no wings or antennae—is what distinguishes adult mites. The other options would imply insects (three body regions and six legs, or wings) or suggest an incorrect number of legs for adults, which doesn’t fit mite anatomy.