To which group of organisms are mites closely related?

Mites are closely related to insects because they belong to the same class within the phylum Arthropoda, specifically the class Arachnida. This class also includes spiders and scorpions. Both mites and insects share certain anatomical features, such as having exoskeletons and jointed appendages, which classify them under the broader umbrella of arthropods.

In contrast, fungi are a distinct kingdom that do not share these characteristics or developmental similarities with either insects or arachnids. Reptiles and mammals belong to completely different animal classes within the phylum Chordata, which are not directly related to the arthropods. Therefore, the close relationship between mites and insects is grounded in their shared evolutionary lineage and similar biological traits.