Is it a mite?—Key feature pages

Recesses into which legs can be withdrawn (pedofossae)

a) present

Recessed areas into which the legs can be withdrawn are found in some armored mites, especially in the higher Oribatida (e.g., shelf-like pedotectapedotectum:
(pl. pedotecta) a scale-like tectum arising around the insertion of legs I or II in some armored oribatid mites that covers the insertion of the leg and sometimes forms a protected space into which the legs can be withdrawn; not to be confused with the pedofossae in the venter of some uropodid mites (Mesostigmata) into which legs may be withdrawn.  (Also tectopedium).  
) and uropodine Mesostigmata (pedofossaepedofossa:
(pl. pedofossae) (= fossae pedales, fovae pedales) recesses into which the legs can be withdrawn.
). Beetles and other strongly sclerotized insects may have analogous structures to protect the legs.

b) absent

Most soil microarthropods do not have recesses into which the legs can be withdrawn.

Feature pages

• Size
• Wings
• Number of legs or leg-like limbs
• Body segmentation
• Body armor/shell
• Major body regions
• Head or head-like region
• Eyes or eye-like structures
• Antennae or antenna-like structures
• Primary mouthparts
• Palps or pedipalps
• Comb-like structures
• Pedipalpal form
• Venter of head or head-like region
• Respiratory structures
• Recesses into which legs can be withdrawn (pedofossae)
• Ventral processes
• Distal or subterminal abdominal structures
• Ovipore/genital opening
• Discrete anal plates
• Insertion of legs
• Modification and form of leg segments
• Tarsal claws
• Tarsal segmentation
• Silk-producing structures
• Bothridial sensilla
• Large lateral opisthosomal glands
• External brooding