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Mites are small arthropods belonging to the class Arachnida, making them distant relatives to spiders. They are characterized by their tiny size, usually measuring less than 1mm in length, and their lack of differentiation between head and thorax. Mites have four pairs of legs and a round or oval body shape. They can be found in diverse habitats, including soil, water, plants, and animal hosts. Some mites are parasitic, feeding on the blood or skin cells of animals, while others are free-living and feed on various organic matter. Mites play important roles in food chains and ecosystems, acting as both predators and prey, and contributing to nutrient cycling through decomposition.