Insects INSECTS Created by Susan Pool 5/2006

Insects Can Fly! There are millions of insects. Some of them fly, and some do not.

They Are Everywhere! Did you know that there are many more kinds of insects on earth than any other kind of living creature? But 95% of all the animal species on the earth are insects! Millions of insects can exist in a single acre of land!

Lots of Beetles There are more beetles than any other kind of insect!

Insects Are Big Eaters!! Insects eat more plants than all the other creatures on earth!

All Insects Must Have: three body parts - a head, thorax, and abdomen six jointed legs two antennae to sense the world around them an exoskeleton (outside skeleton)

Are Spiders Insects?? If these things are not true then it is not an insect. A spider is not an insect because it has eight legs and doesn’t have three body parts!

Some Insects Can Fly Flying insects have either two or four wings. They have muscles in their wings that help them to fly fast or slow or to hover like a helicopter.

Too Many Legs??? Centipedes and millipedes are not insects because they have too many legs!!!

Life Cycles Many insects, such as the Butterfly and the Moth go through stages of growth. First as an egg, then as a larva (like a worm) then into a cocoon (pupa). Finally the new insect breaks out as an adult. It is then that the wings grow and the insect can fly.

Insects are Helpful Insects are directly useful to humans by producing honey, silk, wax, and other products. They also carry pollen from flower to flower.

Pests!!! Some insects are pests because they damage crops and they bite and cause pain to people. This is a tick. Ticks can be harmful.