Soil mite. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a soil mite mouth parts. This mite is typically found in moss and leaf litter. Mites are a highly adaptable group that are related to spiders and have eight legs (four of which are here seen raised). Some mite species are parasites, while soil mites form part of the great diversity of organisms that contribute to the breakdown of plant material. It is thought the mouthparts (chelae) of mites evolved from legs with a prehensile joint, (the digitus mobilus) which allows the mite to chew with a vertical, scissors like action. The chelae have evolved into sharp mouthparts that mites use to pierce the surface of the plants they feed on in order to suck out the contents of the plant cellsMagnification: x450 when printed at 10 centimetres wide.