Insects and Creepy Crawlers Theresa Hardy

Entomologist An entomologist is a person that studies insects. They know a lot about metamorphosis. Do you know what metamorphosis is?

Metamorphosis is the process that animals or insects changes or grows Metamorphosis is the process that animals or insects changes or grows. This is a life cycle. There are many metamorphosis in a this life cycle. The eggs hatch. Larva eat the milkweed leaves for about 2 weeks. Becomes adult caterpillar. Caterpillar attaches itself to a twig. They shed outer skin and begin transformation into a pupa (chrysalis). This takes a couple of hours. Adult butterfly lay eggs under milkweed plant leaves. After about two weeks, the butterfly emerges from the chrysalis. The butterfly waits for its wings to stiffen before it flies away to start its life cycle over again.

When the eggs hatch they are born as larva. The eggs hatch. Larva eat the milkweed leaves for about 2 weeks. Becomes adult caterpillar. When the eggs hatch they are born as larva.

Caterpillar The larva eats leaves until metamorphosis into The eggs hatch. Larva eat the milkweed leaves for about 2 weeks. Becomes adult caterpillar. The larva eats leaves until metamorphosis into an adult caterpillar. Metamorphosis is the change from larva to the adult caterpillar.

Cocoon The caterpillar is now ready for the next metamorphosis. Caterpillar attaches itself to a twig. They shed outer skin and begin transformation into a pupa (chrysalis). This takes a couple of hours. The caterpillar is now ready for the next metamorphosis. A caterpillar sheds its outer skin and changes into a pupa. The pupa is protected in a silk case called a cocoon.

Butterfly After about two weeks, the butterfly emerges from the chrysalis. The butterfly waits for its wings to stiffen before it flies away to start its life cycle over again. When the pupa comes out of the cocoon it is a butterfly. Changing from a chrysalis to a butterfly is also a metamorphosis. The butterfly then flies away. Once the butterfly is ready it will lay eggs and cycle starts again.

Now that you know about the life cycle of a butterfly lets talk about their body parts. An insect has three body parts. Abdomen Head Thorax

Head An insects head has one set of antennae. It also hold the eyes. An insect can have up to 30,000 lenses that are used for eyes. Antennae Head

Thorax The wings and legs of an insects is on the thorax. Insects have six legs. They also have wings. Insects can have two or four wings. Dragonflies have four wings. Thorax Wings Legs

Abdomen The abdomen is the part of an insects body that holds the insects guts.

Arachnids are different from insects.

Arachnids have eight legs and two body parts. Spiders are arachnids.

The legs and eyes are on the thorax/head of an arachnid. Head/Thorax Legs Thorax/Head The legs and eyes are on the thorax/head of an arachnid. Eyes

The spinnerets and guts are in the abdomen.

Webs Spiders use spinnerets to make webs. Spinnerets make the silk that creates webs.

Insects and spiders are invertebrate Insects and spiders are invertebrate. This means that they do not have a spin or backbone.

Now you know all about insects and arachnids Now you know all about insects and arachnids. Can you tell me which of these are insects and which are arachnids?