let’s learn about insects! - east tennessee...
TRANSCRIPT
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 -
TickNo -
Ant-mimicspider
Yes -
PleasingFungus Beetle
No -
Scorpion
Yes -
Thread-legged Assassin Bug
No -
MillipedeYes -
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
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.
CompoundEyes
3 SimpleEyes
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 midgeshear the females’
wingbeats with their antennae
Ants smell and follow chemical trails with theirantennaeMale moths
can smell afemale moth’spheromonesover many mileswith theirfeathery 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 onSquash flower
Lacewing larva eating an aphid
Insect life cycles: Metamorphosis
Complete metamorphosisinvolves 4 stages:
1. Adult Adult Adult -
lays eggs, can have wings2. EggEggEgg3. Larva Larva Larva -
looks nothing like adult;the eating and growing stage;molts 5 times (“instars”); never have wings and can’t lay eggs4. PupaPupaPupa
-
resting, changing stage;adult emerges (chrysalis, cocoon)
Insects that go throughcomplete metamorphosisinclude: butterflies and moths,beetles, flies, bees, ants, and wasps
Incomplete metamorphosisinvolves 3 stages:
1. AdultAdultAdult
-
lays eggs, can have wings2. EggEggEgg3. Nymph Nymph Nymph - looks similar to adult; the eating and growingstage; molts 5 times (“instars”);never have wings and can’t lay eggs
Insects that go throughincomplete metamorphosisinclude: grasshoppers, roaches,true bugs, leafhoppers, dragonflies and damselflies
Incomplete Metamorphosis Life Cycle of a True Bug
1. Adultlays eggs
2. Nymphs hatchfrom eggs
3. After last molt,nymph grows wings and becomes adult
Insect “babies”
“Doodlebug”
-Antlion
larvaLadybug larva Mosquito
larva
Aphid givingbirth to nymph
Ants with pupaHellgramite
-
Dobsonflylarva
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 leafhopperlooks like a thorn
Camouflage
A Loopercaterpillar with flowers onits back
Lacewing larva with fuzz Ambush Bug
MothChrysalis Beetle
Bad smell or taste (brightly-colored insects often
have a bad taste!)
Aphid releasingdefensive liquid when bitten by lacewing larva 4-eyed Milkweed
BeetleStinkbug
Red-banded Leafhopper Grasshopper spitting“tobacco juice”
Ladybug
Stinging or Biting (bright colors can be a warning that insects are
dangerous)
BitingStinging
Ant
Saddlebackcaterpillar
Io Moth Caterpillar
Shieldbug Wasp Flannel Moth caterpillar
How many different kinds of insects are there?
It has been estimated there are about1,017,018 species of insects in the world!
The biggest group of insects is Beetles.
How many different kinds of insects can you think of?
Whirligigbeetle
4-eyed Milkweedbeetle
Hercules beetle Tiger beetle
There Are Many Different Kinds of Insects
Beetles
True bugs
Wasps, bees, ants
Flies
Mantids
CricketsDragonflies
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 metamorphosis4.
What are some ways insects protect themselves?
5.
Name some insects that live in your area6.
What is your favorite insect?
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