What are small, eight-legged relatives of spiders that can be pests of some ornamental landscape plants called?

The correct answer is that these small, eight-legged relatives of spiders are called mites. Mites belong to the arachnid class, which is the same class that includes spiders, scorpions, and ticks. They are often microscopic and can be found in a variety of environments, including soil, plants, and animals. Mites can be particularly problematic in ornamental landscapes, where they may feed on plant tissues, leading to damages such as stippling, discoloration, or even plant death if infestations are severe.

When examining the other options, insects are a broad category that includes many types of pests, but they have six legs, distinguishing them from arachnids like mites. Ticks, while also arachnids, are primarily known for their role as parasites that feed on the blood of animals rather than being directly related to plant damage. Beetles are insects and, like ticks, do not have the eight-legged characteristic of mites. Therefore, mites are the specific group that fits the description of being small, eight-legged and potentially harmful to ornamental landscape plants.