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Some insects that we know are crickets, ants, wasps, bees, grasshoppers,
beetles, moths, dragonflies, butterflies and flies.
WHAT ARE INSECTS ?
- Insects have six legs (when fully grown).
- The body of an insect is made up of three parts.
( head - thorax - abdomen )
- Each insect has one pair of antennae or feelers.
The feelers help the insect find food.
- They have their "skeletons" on the outside (exoskeleton,
like a shell).
- Insects have one or two pairs of wings.
- Insects are cold-blooded.
- They have no lungs, but small openings on their bodies.
- Insects lay many eggs.
- Most insects go through a life cycle called metamorphosis.
(egg, larva, pupa, adult). The "baby" insect does not look at
all like the adult insect.
- Some insects go through only three changes (like the grasshopper).
NOTE: A spider is not an insect. Spiders have 8 legs.
The spider has two parts to its body and no antennae.
LET'S LOOK AT AN INSECT
- The insect's body has three parts - head, thorax and abdomen.
- The head contains the feelers (antennae), eyes and mouth.
- The thorax is the middle part. The legs and
wings are fastened to the thorax. It contains the main muscles
so the insect can run, fly, swim, or walk.
- The abdomen is where the stomach is and where
the eggs are produced.
Some insects have a stinger at the tip of the abdomen
ALL KINDS OF INSECTS
- Insects are the largest group of living things on this earth.
- They live almost everywhere on earth.
- FLIES lay thousands of eggs and spread germs.
- MOSQUITOES lay their eggs in water.
The larvae are called wigglers.
- ANTS live in a large group called a colony .
- BEES are the only insects that make food for man.
- TERMITES are harmful insects. They eat wood in houses.
- There are many HARMFUL insects that eat farm crops.
They destroy corn, wheat, fruit and other crops.
- There are insects that kill trees.
- There are also HELPFUL insects. Without some insects
there would be no flowers, fruits or vegetables and
other plants ... some insects pollinate plants (carry pollen).
MORE about INSECTS
ANIMALS (groups)
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