Four-legged mites
- Pronunciation
- /FOUR-legged myts/
- Category
- Taxonomy
- Plural
- Four-legged mites
Definition
A misnomer sometimes used to refer to mites or ticks, which are actually eight-legged arachnids.
Etymology
Derived from the incorrect assumption that mites have four legs, while they actually have eight.
Example
Despite the name, four-legged mites are actually arachnids with eight legs.
Related Terms
Usage Notes
The term 'four-legged mites' is misleading and technically inaccurate, as mites and ticks have eight legs.