Insects
By:Matt McQuaid
What is an Insect
-Insects have a segmented body divided into head, thorax, and Abdomen
-They have an exoskeleton and three pairs of legs attached to the thorax
Responds to Stimuli
-Insects use many sense organs to detect stimuli
-Compound Eyes, the brain
-Insects have chemical receptors for taste and smell
-They have hairs that can detect movement
Feeding and Movement
Adaptations for feeding
-Insects have three mouthparts for feeding including mandibles
Movement and flight
-Insects have feet that are used for walking jumping and many other things
-Insects ability to fly has allowed them to move all around the world and live in a variety of habitats
Metamorphosis
-The growth and development of insects usually involve metamorphosis, which is a process of changing shape and form. Insects undergo either complete metamorphosis or incomplete metamorphosis
-Incomplete metamorphosis look very much like adults they are the immature form of insects
-Nymphs lack functional sexual organs and other adult structures like wings
-Complete metamorphosis many insects go through a complete change in the body during this process
-They then undergo a final change where they change into a pupa where they change from larvae to adult
Insects and Humans
-Many insects are known for their negative effects, termites eating wood, bees and wasps stings
-Mosquitos, Desert Locusts destroying crops
-Insects are very helpful though One third of the food we eat depends on the pollination on insects like bee's
Insects Communication
-Insects communicate using sound, visual, chemical, and other signals
-The most important part of their communication is finding a mate male crickets rub their wings
-Some use visual cues like fireflies bling their light to attract females
-Some use chemical signals like moths release a chemical to attract distant males these are called pheromones which are specific chemicals that affect the behavior of other individuals of the same species
Insect Societies
-Many insects such as Ants, Bees, and Termites form complex associations called societies
-A society is a group of closely related animals of the same species that work together for the benefit of the whole group
Castes
-Within a society each individual might be chosen to perform individual tasks these are performed by groups of individuals called castes
Communication in Societies
-A specified form of communication is crucial in the working of societies
-Each species of insects has it's own language
-For example when a worker ant finds food she leaves behind a trail of pheromones so other ants can follow it