What characteristics do insects and mites share?

What characteristics do insects and mites share?

• A. Jointed legs, tough exoskeleton, and molting.
• B. Wings and antennae.
• C. No legs.
• D. They have no exoskeleton.

Answer: (A)

Insects and mites share fundamental arthropod traits: jointed legs, a tough outer skeleton, and the ability to molt as they grow. The exoskeleton, made of chitin, provides protection and muscle attachment, but it can’t expand as the organism increases in size. So they must shed the old skin and form a larger one through a molt. Wings and antennae aren’t universal to both groups—mites usually don’t have wings, and not all insects have wings—so that isn’t a shared feature. They do have legs and an exoskeleton, so those options don’t fit. The combination of jointed legs, a tough exoskeleton, and molting is what they have in common.

Insects and mites share fundamental arthropod traits: jointed legs, a tough outer skeleton, and the ability to molt as they grow. The exoskeleton, made of chitin, provides protection and muscle attachment, but it can’t expand as the organism increases in size. So they must shed the old skin and form a larger one through a molt. Wings and antennae aren’t universal to both groups—mites usually don’t have wings, and not all insects have wings—so that isn’t a shared feature. They do have legs and an exoskeleton, so those options don’t fit. The combination of jointed legs, a tough exoskeleton, and molting is what they have in common.