Mites, together with ticks, belong to the order Acarina (also known as Acari) and the class Arachnida. Mites are among the most diverse and successful of all the invertebrate groups. They have exploited an incredible array of habitats and because of their small size (some are microscopic) they are totally unnoticed. Most mites have the freedom to live either on soil or water, but there is also a large number of species that live as parasites on plants or animals.

Very small relatives of the spider, often microscopic. Like their relatives, mites can spin minute webs under leaves and in joints between stems. Mites are frequently a pest of drought-stressed plants and can usually be controlled by keeping plants well watered and by hosing off those that are heavily infected.