Nevada Aerial and Agricultural Ground Pest Control Practice Exam

Mites belong to the class Arachnida, which encompasses a wide variety of organisms including spiders, scorpions, and ticks. This classification is based on several key characteristics shared by members of Arachnida, such as having eight legs in adulthood, a body divided into two main segments (the cephalothorax and abdomen), and lacking antennae, which distinguishes them from insects that belong to the class Insecta.

The other potential classes listed, such as Chilopoda and Collembola, do not include mites. Chilopoda is the class that includes centipedes, known for their elongated bodies and numerous segments with one pair of legs per segment. Collembola, commonly known as springtails, are small, wingless insects that have a unique jumping mechanism. Therefore, recognizing the defining features of Arachnida is essential in correctly identifying the taxonomic group to which mites belong.