What is an insect? Taxonomy: Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Physical Features: Hard exoskeleton (adults), 6 legs, 3-part body, 2 antennae Diverse and Abundant!! More than one million described species!! Represent more than half of ALL living organisms on Earth!!
Insect Body Plan
Centipedes & milipedes Not Insects!! spiders scorpions Isopods Centipedes & milipedes
Familiar Insect Orders Hymenoptera: bees, wasps & ants; many social species Coleoptera: beetles; hardened wings called elytra Lepidoptera: moths and butterflies; nectar-feeding (proboscis) Orthoptera: grasshoppers, crickets and locusts Diptera: “true” flies, mosquitoes, gnats
Pollinators Are Cool!