Post on 14-Dec-2015
Body Structure
Arthropods with three body sections, six legs, one pair of antennae, and usually one or two pairs of wings
Three body sections are the head, thorax, and abdomen
Body Sections: Head
Insect’s sense organs found in head (eyes/antennae)
Two large compound eyes◦Compound eyes contain many lenses, keen at seeing movement
Body Structure: Thorax
Insect’s midsectionWhere wings and legs are attached
Only invertebrates that can flyCan travel long distances to find
mates, food, and new places to live
Body Structure:Abdomen
Internal organs found in the abdomen
Small holes outside of abdomen allow air, which contains oxygen, to enter the body through tubes
Obtaining Food
“If it is living, or if it once was living, some kind of insect will eat it.”
Mouthparts are adapted for a highly specific way of getting food
Life Cycle
Begin life as tiny, hard-shelled, fertilized eggs
Either go through… ◦Complete metamorphosis◦Gradual metamorphosis
Complete Metamorphosis
4 different stages: egg, larva, pupa, adult
Insect begins life as a tiny, hard-shelled fertilized egg
The eggs hatch into larvae (usually look like worms)
Larva will then enter next stage and become a pupa, insect is enclosed in a protective covering◦Pupa does not eat/barely moves, but it is NOT
restingWhen development is complete, adult
leaves pupal case
Gradual Metamorphosis
No distinct larval stage
Egg hatches into a stage called a nymph◦Nymph: usually looks like the adult insect without wings
Nymph may molt several times before becoming an adult
Grasshoppers, termites, cockroaches, dragonflies
Video Clips
https://vimeo.com/37289745
https://vimeo.com/album/3277606/video/37321126