What order includes mites?

The correct answer is Arachnida, which includes mites along with spiders, scorpions, and ticks. This classification is based on several shared characteristics, such as having eight legs in their adult stage (as opposed to the six legs characteristic of insects).

Mites are small arachnids that play various roles in ecological systems, including being decomposers and parasites. The order Arachnida is distinct from the other options listed. Insecta, for example, contains insects that have three body segments (head, thorax, abdomen) and typically six legs. Crustacea includes aquatic animals like crabs and lobsters, characterized by having a shell and primarily living in marine or freshwater environments. Diplopoda, on the other hand, refers to the class of millipedes, which have elongated bodies and are also distinct from mites.

By understanding that mites fall under Arachnida, one can better appreciate the diversity within the animal kingdom and the specific characteristics that define each order or class.