Which of the following statements is false regarding mites?

• A. Mites occupy a wide range of ecological niches
• B. Some species of mites produce fine webbing from silk glands located near their mouth
• C. Mites have three pairs of jointed legs
• D. Adult mites have three pairs of jointed legs

Answer: (D)

Mites are arachnids, so as adults they typically have four pairs of legs, eight in total. They start life as six-legged larvae, and during molts into nymphs and then adults they gain the additional pair to reach eight legs. So saying that adult mites have three pairs of jointed legs is false, because adults do not have six legs—they have eight. The other statements align with what is known about mites: they occupy many different environments, and some species can produce fine silk to weave light webbing from glands near the mouth.