1. Class Insecta Mr. Hooper March 2015
The Insects
Class Insecta
Mr. Hooper
March 2015

2. Cactus Longhorn Beetle
Phylum Arthropoda
Arthropod is from the Greek
words “Arthros” meaning joint
and “podos” meaning leg or foot.
The arthropods are divided into
five major groups:
Class Crustacea
Class Arachnida
Class Chilopoda
Class Diplopoda
Class Insecta
Cactus Longhorn Beetle
(Moneilema gigas)

3. Class Insecta

4. What is an Insect?
Insects are arthropods with three body sections, six legs, one pair of antennae, and usually one or two
pairs of wings.

5. Insect Body Plan
The three body sections of an insect are the head, thorax, and abdomen.

6. Insect Body Sections -Head
Most of the insect’s sense organs, such as the two, large compound eyes and
antennae are located on the head.
A compound eye is an eye with many
lenses.
Most insects also have small, simple eyes than can distinguish light from dark.
Six-spotted Tiger Beetle

7. Insect Body Sections -Thorax
The insect’s midsection or thorax is the section to which the wings and legs are attached.
Flight allows insects the ability to travel long distances to find food, mates, and habitat.
Blue Damselfly

8. Insect Body Sections -Abdomen
The insect’s most posterior body section is the abdomen.
Inside the abdomen are many of the insect’s internal organs.
Small holes called spiracles on the outside of the abdomen lead to
a system of tubes inside the insect.

9. Obtaining Food

10. Class Insecta Complete Metamorphosis Fireflies undergo complete
Complete metamorphosis in the butterfly Brooker Biology textbook, Copyright McGraw-Hill companies

11. Complete Metamorphosis
Flies and fleas undergo complete
metamorphosis.

12. Complete Metamorphosis in Beetles
Beetles including ladybird beetles and Japanese beetles go through
the four stages of complete metamorphosis.

13. Class Insecta Gradual Metamorphosis
Grasshoppers, termites, cockroaches,
dragonflies, praying mantises, thrips
and cicadas go through
gradual metamorphosis.

14. Earwigs undergo gradual metamorphosis.
Earwigs undergo gradual metamorphosis.

15. Insects as Beneficial Predators
Any organism that exists by preying upon other organisms.
Adult green lacewing
Insects that are beneficial predators include lacewing adults and larvae, praying mantises, and ladybugs.
Biological Control
A natural predator released into an area to combat a pest insect.
Lacewing larva are voracious predators also
known as “aphid lions.”

16. Insects as Pollinators
An animal that carries pollen from one plant to another of the same species,
enabling plants to reproduce.
Insect pollinators include bees, wasps, beetles, butterflies, and flies.

17. Insects as Decomposers
An organism that breaks down wastes and dead organisms.
Insect decomposers include beetles, flies,
and termites.

18. Insects as Food for Humans
Insects are collected and eaten by people in many parts of the world.
Grasshoppers, ants, crickets, and cicadas are types of insects eaten by humans.

19. Insects as Food for Humans
Crick-ettes ®: Real edible crickets! Original Cricket Snax in Salt n' Vinegar, Bacon & Cheddar Cheese, and Sour Cream & Onion seasoning. Eight boxes of each flavor g boxes.

20. Medically Important Insects

21. Insects as Structural Pests
Termites and carpenter ants damage homes and structures by eating
and weakening wood.
Cockroaches crawl through dirty areas and then walk around our homes tracking in lots of bacteria and germs. They can contaminate food by shedding their skins. Their cast off skin and waste byproducts are allergens that can trigger allergic reactions, asthma and other illnesses, especially in children.

22. Insects as Crop Pests Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Aphid with nymphs

23. Integrated Pest Management
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a strategy of managing pest insects with the least effect to people, pets, and the environment. IPM strives to control pests through multiple strategies. Control measures include habitat modification, physical methods, biological controls, and responsible and safe use of pesticides.

24. Integrated Pest Management
Advantages of IPM include a decrease in the use of pesticides, increases in beneficial insects, and a decrease in the prevalence of pesticide resistant pest species.

25. Works Cited
Ambylopygi (whip spider).
American carrion beetles.
American carrion beetle-single.
Aphid.
Beetle eating leaf.
Body plan diagram.
Bowl of grasshoppers.
Brown marmoted stink bug.
Cicadas on a stick.
Cockroach.
Crick-ettes.
Feeding mosquito.
Green lacewing adult.
Horsefly.
IPM Cycle.
Ladybird and aphids.
Plague soldier beetle.
Praying mantis.

26. Works Cited
Red Admiral.
Scarab Beetle.
Six –spotted tiger beetle.
Termite damage.
Yellow jacket close-up.
Yellow jacket dorsal.
Yellow jacket profile.