Insects 5th Grade

How can you identify insects from other Arthropods? number of body sections (3) number of legs (6) pair of antennae (1) *usually have one or 2 pairs of wings

Body Sections (3) Head –sense organs, eyes, antennae Thorax– midsection where legs and wings are attached Abdomen –inside are internal organs, small holes outside abdomen contain tubes that allow air (oxygen) to enter the body

Insect Body Sections

Insect Body Sections

Rule: “If it is living or if it once was living, some kind of insect will eat it.” Leaves or nectar Wood lice eat PAPER! Fleas and mosquitos feed on the blood of living animals Dung beetles feed on animal droppings Burying beetles feed on the decaying bodies of dead animals

Life Cycle: Insects go through a Complete Metamorphosis or a Gradual Metamorphosis No distinct larval stage Egg hatches into a nymph (looks like an adult without wings) Complete Metamorphosis: 4 different stages Egg, larva, pupa, adult

Gradual Metamorphosis: (Dragonfly) Examples of Insects: Grasshoppers Termites Cockroaches Dragonflies

Complete Metamorphosis: *Examples of Insects: Beetles Butterflies Ants Flies

During the “pupa” phase, insects are inside a protective pupal case called a “Chrysalis”

Complete Metamorphosis: Eggs Larvae –usually look like worms Pupa –insect is enclosed in a protective covering called a chrysalis (wings, legs, antennae form) Adult

Ants http://www.brainpop.com/science/diversityoflife/ants/