Ticks are closely related to which type of insect?

Ticks are closely related to spiders because they belong to the same class of arthropods known as arachnids. Arachnids are characterized by having eight legs, a body divided into two parts (the cephalothorax and abdomen), and no antennae. This class includes not only ticks but also spiders, scorpions, and mites. While beetles, ants, and butterflies are insects and belong to a different class called Insecta, ticks' shared features with spiders highlight their classification within arachnids. Understanding this relationship offers insight into their biology and behavior, as they share similar ecological roles and life strategies.