The World of Insects

Over a million different kinds of insects have been discovered. They are found in
almost every sort of habitat, from deserts to lakes, and from the soil to the air. The only
place which insects have been unable to colonize successfully is the oceans. Insects
vary enormously in their general shape as well as in their size. They range from the
microscopic to beetles the size of large mice.
Insects all have certain features in common. They have an external skeleton called an
exoskeleton which provides support and protection. The bodies of adult insects are
divided into three parts: the head, the thorax and the abdomen, and on the middle part
are three pairs of legs.
Perhaps the most striking feature of insects is their ability to fly. Some insects such as
beetles, are quite cumbersome in flight and can cover only short distances. Others,
however, such as dragonflies, spend virtually all the hours of daylight on the wing.
The wings of many butterflies are extremely colourful and are used for a variety of
purposes such as display, defense and camouflage, in addition to their use in flight.
Insects eat many different types of food. Many are carnivores while others eat only
plant material. Some insects even eat plants at one stage of their life and animals at
another stage.

Glossary:
Feature – characteristic
Camouflage – natural disguise
Carnivores – meat eaters
Colonize – live together in a group
Cumbersome – clumsy or awkward
Habitat – place where an animal or plant lives
1) What is the only place where insects have lived? Give evidence to support your
answer.
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2) What is the most common feature of all insects?

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3) What is the most striking feature of all insects?

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4) What are the main body parts of an adult insect?

1. _____________________________
2. _____________________________
3. _____________________________

5) What do butterflies use their wings for?

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6) Give evidence to show that not all insects eat plants.

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7) State some of the differences between insects.

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8) State some of the similarities between insects.

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9) Tick two sentences to show which statements are FALSE.

a. Adult insects have three main body parts
b. All insects are smaller than mice
c. Dragonflies fly in the daytime
d. All insects are vegetarian
e. Insects are found in the desert
Answers
1) Oceans, “The only place which insects have been unable to colonize
successfully is the oceans.”
2) They have an external skeleton called an exoskeleton which provides support
and protection
OR The bodies of adult insects are divided into three parts
3) Perhaps the most striking feature of insects is their ability to fly.
4) Head, Abdomen, Thorax
5) used for a variety of purposes such as display, defense and camouflage, in
addition to their use in flight.
6) Insects eat many different types of food.
OR Many are carnivores while others eat only plant material.
7) Insects vary enormously in their general shape as well as in their size.
Some insects can fly while others cannot.
Insects eat different types of food
8) They have an external skeleton called an exoskeleton
The bodies of adult insects are divided into three parts