Which characteristic separates mites from insects?

Mites are characterized by their number of legs, which distinguishes them from insects. Adult mites, which belong to the class Arachnida, possess eight legs. Conversely, insects, which belong to the class Insecta, typically have six legs. This fundamental distinction in leg count is one of the primary physical differences between these two groups of arthropods.

While the presence of wings, body segments, and the ability to fly are features that relate to insects, they do not adequately define the separation between mites and insects. For instance, not all insects have wings, and body segmentation can vary among different insect orders. The ability to fly is also more specific to certain insect species, providing no clear distinguishing characteristic when looking broadly at both groups. Therefore, the number of legs serves as the clear and definitive factor that separates mites from insects.