Let s Learn About Insects! - PDF Free Download

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 Firefly (male) Thorax Head Abdomen - spiracles for breathing, digestive system, circulatory system, reproductive system; fireflies have light segments Abdomen

Do Caterpillars have 3 body parts too? Yes! Abdomen (with 10 prolegs) Thorax (with 6 true legs) Head

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. 3 Simple Eyes Compound 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 Male moths can smell a female moth s pheromones over many miles with their feathery antennae! Ants smell and follow chemical trails with their antennae Some beetles have unusualshaped antennae

Why are insects important? Insects: Are a food source for other animals Eat pests that damage crops Bumblebee on Pollinate flowers and make honey Squash flower 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! Lacewing larva eating an aphid

What Do Insects Eat? Dung! Plants Other insects Blood Pollen and Nectar Dead Animals Wood

Insect life cycles: Metamorphosis Complete metamorphosis involves 4 stages: 1. Adult - lays eggs, can have wings 2. Egg 3. Larva - looks nothing like adult; the eating and growing stage; molts 5 times ( instars ); never have wings and can t lay eggs 4. 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 - lays eggs, can have wings 2. Egg 3. Nymph -looks similar to adult; the eating and growing stage; molts 5 times ( instars ); never have wings and can t lay eggs Insects that go through incomplete metamorphosis include: grasshoppers, roaches, true bugs, leafhoppers, dragonflies and damselflies

Complete Metamorphosis: Life Cycle of a Ladybug 4. Adult 1. Eggs 3. Pupa 2. Larva

Incomplete Metamorphosis Life Cycle of a True Bug 1. Adult lays eggs 3. After last molt, nymph grows wings and becomes adult 2. Nymphs hatch from eggs

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: This leafhopper looks like a thorn Mimicry - Looking like something else! This Moth looks like bird poop! This Fly looks like a bee The Io moth surprises predators with fake eye spots This Moth looks like a Bumblebee This Fly looks like a wasp

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!) Ladybug Aphid releasing defensive liquid when bitten by lacewing larva 4-eyed Milkweed Beetle Stinkbug Red-banded Leafhopper Grasshopper spitting tobacco juice

Stinging or Biting (bright colors can be a warning that insects are Saddleback caterpillar dangerous) Ant Biting Stinging 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? Whirligig beetle 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? 4-eyed Milkweed beetle Hercules beetle Tiger beetle

There Are Many Different Kinds of Insects True bugs Flies Beetles Wasps, bees, ants Cicadas Mantids Butterflies and moths Crickets Dragonflies Fleas Leafhoppers

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?

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