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EDUCATION ZONE |
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INSECTS
What Is an Insect?
Insects and their relatives, including spiders and scorpions, belong
to a huge group of animals called the arthropods. The main thing
that all arthropods have in common is their hard outer coat, which
is called an exoskeleton and protects their soft insides. The bodies
of arthropods are divided into sections.
Telling Insects Apart
Nearly 100,000 insect species live in North America. Scientists
group these species into orders. Many of the insects you are most
likely see belong to twelve orders. You will also probably come
across other insects and some non-insect creatures such as spiders,
mites, scorpions, and centipedes.
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Dragonflies
and Damselflies
Dragonflies and damselflies skim across waterways looking for
other insects to eat. These hunters belong to the order Odonata,
which means "tooth jawed."
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Mantids
Mantids can not be confused with any other insects! These long,
lean, bug-eyed hunters use their front legs to snatch other
insects. They belong to the order Mantodea.
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Crickets
and Grasshoppers
Crickets and grasshoppers have strong hind legs for jumping.
They belong to the order Orthoptera, which means "straight
wings." Over 23,000 species hop worldwide; North America
has about 1,000 species. |
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Bees,
Wasps, and Ants
Bees, wasps, and ants belong to the order Hymenoptera, which
means "membrane wings." The two wings on each side
of these insects' bodies zip together with little hooks, making
each pair work like one big wing. |
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Butterflies
and Moths
Butterflies and moths soar on wings covered with tiny scales
that give them their color and flash and also their order name,
Lepidoptera, which means "scale wings." About 125,000
species of butterflies and moths exist; 12,000 live in North
America. |
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Spiders
Spiders are not insects, but with 3,000 species of them living
in North America, you will likely see them as you look for insects.
They belong to the order Araneae. |
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Beetles
Beetles belong to the largest order in the animal kingdom. Their
order name is Coleoptera, which means "sheath wings." |
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Cockroaches
Cockroaches belong to the order Blattodea from the Latin word
for cockroach. They rarely fly, preferring to slip into thin
cracks and crevices. Those dwelling in human homes are the best
known, but many species live in tropical forests. |
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Flies and Mosquitoes
Flies and mosquitoes belong to the order Diptera, which means
"two wings." Unlike most other insects, which have
four wings, they have only two. The other set is reduced to
a pair of little knobs.
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True
Bugs
True bugs are the only insects that really are bugs. Their order
name is Hemiptera, which means "half wings."
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Cicadas
and Kin
Cicadas, leafhoppers, and aphids all dine on plants. These insects
are part of the order Homoptera, which means "similar wings."
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Mayflies
Mayflies belong to the order Ephemeroptera, which means "short-lived
wings," referring to the brief life of the adult mayfly.
Some mayflies live for a few days, while others live for just
a few hours.
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Earwigs
Earwigs often have leathery front wings, which give them their
order name of Dermaptera, or "skin wings."
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