Do adult spider mites have 4 pairs of legs while nymphs only have 3 pairs?

Adult spider mites do indeed have four pairs of legs, which is characteristic of arachnids, the class to which they belong. Nymphs, on the other hand, start their development with a body form that includes only three pairs of legs. As they progress through their life stages and molt into adults, they develop the fourth pair. This fundamental difference in leg structure between nymphs and adults is crucial for understanding their biology and lifecycle.

In this context, distinguishing the differences in leg count emphasizes the developmental stages of spider mites; nymphs are in an earlier developmental phase, limited to three pairs, while adults show the complete arachnid morphology with four pairs. This knowledge is essential for pest management and control measures, as recognizing the life stages of spider mites can help in determining the most effective control strategies.