Venter of head or head-like region

a) with ventral beak

Suctorial mouthparts have developed in a number of arthropod groups, but usually as projecting, snout-like structures. Only insects have distinct beaks on the underside of the head.

b) with series of mouthparts

Mandibulate arthropods typically have a clearly defined segmental arrangement of mouthparts ventrally on the head. The exception are those entognathous taxa where the head capsule envelopes the mouthparts.

c) pedipalpal bases meeting medially

Arachnids have only two pairs of segmental limbs devoted primarily to feeding: the chelicerae and the pedipalps. Typically, the coxae of the pedipalps are flattened and have processes that extend towards the midline or even fuse to form a floor to the buccal opening.

d) denticles on projecting hypostome

Ticks (Ixodida) have a distinctive holdfast structure composed of a projecting hypostome covered with posteriorly projecting denticles.

e) with flagellate tritosternum

f) with corniculus or rutellum

In Mesostigmata and Holothyrida, the anterior margin of the hypostome carries a pair of corniculi (singular: corniculus) or horn-like (sometimes toothed or bifurcate) processes that are thought to represent hypertrophied setae. In many acariform mites, a pair of toothed to chisel-like processes are present in the same region and are called rutella (singular: rutellum).

Is it a mite?—Key feature pages