Is it a mite?

t

Common names

insects

Probability of encounter

high

Quarantine importance

high

Similarity to mites

Small size and obscure segmentation in some (e.g., scale insect crawlers). Insects can usually be distinguished from mites by their antennae, compound eyes, wings, or clear segmentation.

Morphology

Normal adult length: usually >3 mm (range 0.6 to greater than 100 mm)
Body tagmata: head, thorax, abdomen
Eyes: various–absent, compound, ocelli
Antennae: present, variously formed
Mouthparts: mandible, maxillae, labium, labrum, maxillary and labial palps usually distinct
Legs: 3 thoracic pairs
Distinguishing features: wings (when present); hexapod thorax, head with antennae, compound eyes.

Comments: Insects have a head with antennae (and often compound eyes); a thorax with 3 pairs of legs (and often 1–2 pairs of wings); and an abdomen that usually lacks styli, but may have an ovipositor.

Diversity

lots

References

• Tree of Life Web Project 2002dTree of Life Web Project 2002d:
  Tree of Life Web Project. 2002. Insecta. Insects. Version 01 January 2002 (under construction). The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/