Childrens Illustrated Encyclopedia

childrens_illustrated_encyclopedia_template_US_layer_v1

AntennAe

Sense organs called

antennae detect smells

and vibrations in the

air and in solid

objects. Often, the

male has larger,

more branched

antennae than the

female. these help

detect the scent

that she releases

into the air at

mating time. near

the antennae there

are often several

tiny single-lens eyes

called ocelli.

insects

280

Life cycLe

A damselfly

begins life as an

egg in a pond or a

stream. it passes through

10 or more molts, taking up to two years

altogether, before changing into an adult.

cOurtShip

Some insects, such as the

praying mantises shown

here, have complicated

courtship behavior. After

mating, the female mantis

often grasps and eats the

male mantis; the nutrients

in the body of the male

help the eggs develop.

Flea

A flea can leap more

than 12 in (30 cm) into

the air, which

is similar to

a person jumping 800 ft (245 m),

or a 70-story building, like Saint

paul’s cathedral in London, england.

A flea transmits force from a

spring in its thorax, which is

just behind the head, through

leg segments acting as levers

to push down on to the toe.

This helps the flea to launch

itself at high speed.

The praying mantis

is the only insect

that can turn its head

to look directly behind it.

MetAMOrphOSiS

Most insects hatch from eggs. Some

insects, such as the butterfly, hatch

into a larva or caterpillar, which

feeds voraciously and moults (sheds

its skin) several times. it then forms

a chrysalis and pupates, finally

emerging as a mature adult

butterfly. these great changes in

form are known as complete

metamorphosis. Other insects, such

as grasshoppers, hatch into nymphs,

which look like small versions of the

parent, but without proper wings.

they moult in order to grow and

finally become adult after the final

molt when they have wings. this is

called incomplete metamorphosis.

Weevil has elbow-

jointed antennae.

Indian beetle has

antlerlike antennae.

Butterflies and

moths (Lepidoptera)

Fleas

(Siphonaptera)

Cockroaches

(Blattodea)

Flies, mosquitoes,

gnats (Diptera)

Termites

(Isoptera)

Bees, wasps,

ants, ichneumons

(Hymenoptera)

Silverfish and

bristletails

(Thysanura)

Scorpionflies

(Mecoptera) Stoneflies

(Plecoptera)

Thrips

(Thysanoptera)

Stick and

leaf insects

(Phasmatodea)

Weevils and beetles

(Coleoptera)

Earwigs

(Dermaptera) Mantises

(Mantodea)

Lacewings and

antlions

(Neuroptera)

Grasshoppers,

crickets, locusts

(Orthoptera)

Dragonflies and

damselflies

(Odonata)

Bugs such

as greenfly,

shieldbugs,

cicadas, and

water striders

(Hemiptera)

Lice

(Psocoptera,

Phthiraptera)

Older nymph (larva)

develops wings.

Young nymph

(larva)

Female

damselfly

lays eggs

on stem

of reed.

Emerging

nymph

climbs up

reed stem.

Adult emerges

from nymph

skin.

Types oF insecTs

there are about 30

main groups of insects.

Beetles and weevils

form the largest single

group of insects, which

contains more than

370,000 species known

to entomologists

(scientists who study

insects). Most insects

have wings at some

stage during their

life cycle; bristletails,

silverfish, and firebrats

do not. fleas are also

wingless; their wings

have disappeared

during the course

of evolution.

Find out more

Animals

Ants and termites

Beetles

Butterflies and moths

flies and mosquitoes

flight, animal

Saint Paul’s Cathedral

Legs kick

down for extra

acceleration.

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