ENTOMOLOGY Entomology is the study of insects

Can you name some different types of insects?

How many different species of insect are there? It is important to recognize this diagram only represents organisms known to science. For some groups of organisms the estimate of unknown species is greater than for known species. There are around 751,000 known species of insect, about 73% of all animal species! Source: https://courses.cit.cornell.edu/ent201/diversity.html

What makes an insect an insect? Can you count the ant’s legs?

All insects have: Six legs Segmented bodies An exoskeleton

Is a worm an insect? Is a spider an insect? A worm is not an insect, it has no legs. A spider is not an insect, it has 8 legs.

Are these animals insects? Why or why not? ©USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab Are these animals insects? Why or why not? ©Techno-mole ©Drriss and Marrionn Top left: pill bug (isopod), not an insect – has more than 6 legs Middle left: Beetle – yes insect Bottom left: centipede, not an insect – has more than 6 legs Top right: millipede, not an insect – has more than 6 legs Middle right: lady bird beetles, yes insect Bottom right: tick, not an insect – has 8 legs Bottom center: dragonfly, yes insect Middle center: spider, not an insect – has 8 legs ©Reid ©A.Davey

What do insects eat? Lots of different foods! Photo taken by Jerry McFarland Photo taken by Forest Wander Photo taken by Rob Underhill Photo taken by U.S. Department of Agriculture Insects eat a huge variety of foods, including plants, mushrooms, other insects, dead animals, and live animals (including us!) Lots of different foods!

How can you tell the difference between a moth and a butterfly? Moth’s antennae are usually feathery, whereas butterflies’ antennae are thin with clubs at the end. Most moths are nocturnal (active at night), whereas most butterflies are active during the day.

Where do insects live? Insects live primarily in terrestrial habitats. That is to say they live on the land rather than in the ocean. However, some species of insect spend all or part of their lives in the ocean, and many species live in freshwater habitats such as lakes, marshes, swamps, and rivers. There are approximately 30,000 known species of insect living in Canada alone! Because insects are so diverse, they have adapted to survive in any imaginable environment. Some species are capable of long periods of dormancy which allows them to survive in places where conditions are periodically unfavourable.

Everywhere you go on earth you will find a unique set of insect species that are adapted to thrive in local conditions.

Insects live in desert environments where they must go long periods with no water or food.

Insects live in fresh water Insects live in fresh water. This species of beetle has legs that function as paddles for swimming.

This caddis fly larvae lives in lakes and rivers This caddis fly larvae lives in lakes and rivers. It makes a home for itself by gluing pieces of rock and swigs together to match its surroundings.

CAMOUFLAGE Many insects hide by blending in with their surroundings. This is called camouflage.

This local species (Propertius duskywing) of butterfly has colourations that help it blend into its background. This allowed it to hide from predators. Photo taken by Rob Underhill

Many species of insect make themselves look like leaves or sticks so they can hide from birds, bats, or other animals that may try to eat them. Photo taken by Clark Maxwell

Can you see the other butterfly? The butterfly on the left is the same type of butterfly with its wings folded up.

Mimicry Many insects have evolved to look like poisonous or stinging insects to scare off predators. The Monarch butterfly is poisonous, but the Viceroy is not. By looking like a monarch, the viceroy pretends to be poisonous

Photo taken by John Flannery Hoverflies are a good example of mimics. They often look like wasps or bees, but do not sting. The picture on the left is a hoverfly, the picture on the right is a wasp. All flies (order Diptera) have two wings and all wasps and bees (order Hymenoptera) have four wings. Sometimes you have to look very closely because two of the bee’s wings can be very small.

Insect development Incomplete Metamorphosis Complete Metamorphosis In ‘complete’ metamorphosis adults lay eggs, which hatch into larvae. The larvae then become pupae, which is the stage where they change from larvae into adults. Usually pupae are immobile, with a hard protective shell. After a period of time (ranging greatly depending on species), the individual emerges as an adult. In ‘incomplete’ metamorphosis adults lay eggs, which hatch into nymphs. Nymphs grow, eventually becoming adults.

Snakefly These graceful creatures are non-aggressive and do not sting. The females have a long ovipositor for laying eggs into the crevices of bark.

This education resource was produced by the Mayne Island Conservancy Society thanks to the financial support of: