Lets Learn About

Insects!
All photos and text by Kris H. Light
Copyright 2008
All rights reserved
What is the difference between
an insect and a spider?
Insects:
have 3 body parts
have 6 legs
can have antennae
can fly (if they have wings)
have compound eyes
Spiders:
have 2 body parts
have 8 legs
do not have antennae
never have wings
have 6 - 8 simple eyes
Which of these animals are insects?
No -

Tick
No -

Ant-mimic
spider
Yes -

Pleasing
Fungus Beetle
No -

Scorpion
Yes -

Thread-legged
Assassin Bug
No -

Millipede
Yes -

Scorpionfly
No -

Slug
Insects have 3 body parts
Head - Mouth, compound eyes,
simple eyes, may have
antennae
Thorax - 6 legs; 0, 2 (flies) or 4
wings; flight muscles
Abdomen - spiracles for
breathing, digestive system,
circulatory system,
reproductive system; fireflies
have light segments
Firefly (male)
Head
Thorax
Abdomen
Do Caterpillars have 3 body parts
too?
Head
Thorax
(with 6 true legs)
Abdomen
(with 10 prolegs)
Yes!
Insects have
compound eyes
Insects have many to
thousands of tiny
eyes, called
compound eyes
(ocelli) to detect
movement and find
food.
Some insects have
three simple eyes to
detect light and dark.
Compound
Eyes
3 Simple
Eyes
Insect Mouths
The type of mouth an insect has determines what it can eat
Chewing

- solids
(leaves, wood, meat,
other insects)
Piercing

-

liquids
(plant sap, blood)
Sponging

-

liquids
(plant juice, blood, body fluids)
Coiled tube

- liquids (nectar);
flies and butterflies taste
with their feet!
Insect antennae - used for
hearing, smelling, feeling
Male mosquitoes and midges
hear the females

wing
beats with their antennae
Ants smell and follow
chemical trails with their
antennae Male moths
can smell a
female moths
pheromones
over many miles
with their
feathery antennae!
Some beetles
have unusual-
shaped antennae
Why are insects important?
Insects:
Are a food source for other animals
Eat pests that damage crops
Pollinate flowers and make honey
Turn dead plants and animals into soil
(decomposers)
Can make silk, shellac, and natural food
coloring (cochineal bugs)
Are fun to watch and learn about!
Bumblebee on
Squash flower
Lacewing larva eating
an aphid
What Do Insects Eat?
Plants
Other insects
Blood
Pollen and Nectar
Dead Animals
Wood
Dung!
Insect life cycles:
Metamorphosis
Complete metamorphosis
involves 4 stages:
1.
Adult
Adult
Adult -

lays eggs, can
have wings
2.
Egg
Egg
Egg
3.
Larva
Larva
Larva -

looks nothing like adult;
the eating and growing stage;
molts 5 times (instars);
never have wings and cant lay eggs
4.
Pupa
Pupa
Pupa

-

resting, changing stage;
adult emerges (chrysalis, cocoon)
Insects that go through
complete metamorphosis
include: butterflies and
moths,beetles, flies, bees,
ants, and wasps
Incomplete metamorphosis
involves 3 stages:
1.
Adult
Adult
Adult

-

lays eggs, can
have wings
2.
Egg
Egg
Egg
3.
Nymph
Nymph
Nymph - looks similar
to adult; the eating and growing
stage; molts 5 times (instars);
never have wings and cant lay eggs
Insects that go through
incomplete metamorphosis
include: grasshoppers, roaches,
true bugs, leafhoppers,
dragonflies and damselflies
Complete Metamorphosis:
Life Cycle of a Ladybug
1. Eggs
2. Larva
3. Pupa
4. Adult
Incomplete Metamorphosis
Life Cycle of a True Bug
1. Adult
lays eggs
2. Nymphs hatch
from eggs
3. After last molt,
nymph grows wings
and becomes adult
Insect babies
Doodlebug

-
Antlion

larva
Ladybug larva
Mosquito
larva
Aphid giving
birth to nymph
Ants with pupa
Hellgramite

-

Dobsonfly
larva
Webworm Moth
caterpillar
Ways insects
protect themselves:
Mimicry

-
Looking like
something else!
The Io moth surprises
predators with fake
eye spots
This Moth looks
like bird poop!
This Fly looks
like a bee
This Moth looks
like a Bumblebee
This Fly looks
like a wasp
This leafhopper
looks like a thorn
Camouflage
A Looper
caterpillar
with flowers on
its back
Lacewing larva
with fuzz
Ambush Bug
Moth
Chrysalis Beetle
Bad smell or taste
(brightly-colored insects often
have a bad taste!)
Aphid releasing
defensive liquid
when bitten by
lacewing larva
4-eyed Milkweed
Beetle
Stinkbug
Red-banded Leafhopper
Grasshopper spitting
tobacco juice
Ladybug
Stinging or Biting
(bright colors can be a warning that insects are
dangerous)
Biting
Stinging
Ant
Saddleback
caterpillar
Io Moth Caterpillar
Shieldbug
Wasp
Flannel Moth caterpillar
Where do insects live?
Fields, gardens, forests
In the soil
On trees
In the water
Plants and
Flowers
How many different kinds
of insects are there?
It has been estimated there are about
1,017,018 species of insects in the world!
The biggest group of insects is Beetles.
How many different kinds of insects can you think of?
Whirligig
beetle
4-eyed Milkweed
beetle
Hercules beetle
Tiger beetle
There Are Many Different Kinds of Insects
Beetles
True bugs
Wasps, bees, ants
Flies
Mantids
Crickets
Dragonflies
Fleas
Cicadas
Leafhoppers
Butterflies and moths
Follow-up questions:
1.

What is the difference between an insect and a spider?
2.

What kinds of mouths do insects have? Give examples
3.

Explain the 2 different kinds of metamorphosis
4.

What are some ways insects protect themselves?
5.

Name some insects that live in your area
6.

What is your favorite insect?
End of Presentation
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