| ign="center"> | | | | may bot display all insect-like characteristics. |
| To most people insects are mere annoyances, | | | | Caterpillars, for instance, do no display wings or |
| creepy little critters, and pests. However, insects are | | | | antennae, but when they grow into butterflies they |
| creatures that have an important place in our world, | | | | will. So it is very helpful to look at both an adult |
| with literally millions of spieces of insects in existence. | | | | specimen and maturing specimen. |
| They are a subcategory of arthropods, which are | | | | Let's examine a couple of small creatures that are |
| creatures that have bodies divided into segments, | | | | frequently mistaken for insects. As you may know, |
| and exoskeletons. | | | | spiders are not insects but rather arachnids, which |
| Insects can be told apart from other similar-looking | | | | we can see by counting their legs. Spiders have eight |
| creatures by looking at a few specific characteristics | | | | legs, so right away we know that they can't be |
| that are easily to judge. One of the traits of insects | | | | insects. Slugs and snails are not insects either, as we |
| is that they have three separate segments to their | | | | can confirm by counting their legs: wait, they don't |
| body. The head, thorax, and abdomen are the three | | | | have any legs! One more example is the centipede. |
| segments in question. The head is self explanatory, | | | | Centipedes are not insects but rather chilopa. They |
| while the thorax is connected to the head, much like | | | | do not have a fixed number of legs, but have one |
| a human torso. And the abdomen connects to the | | | | pair of legs per body segment. And centipedes can |
| thorax, and looks like the backside of the creature. | | | | have many body segments. |
| The next distinct characteristic of insects is that they | | | | To study more about insects and see insect-related |
| have six jointed legs. There are three pairs of legs in | | | | educational materials like Butterflies free clipartvist . |
| all, and all of them attach to the thorax. If you spot | | | | Report this article |
| a small creature with legs attached to the abdomen, | | | | This article is free for republishing |
| then it is not an insect. An additional characteristic is | | | | Source: |
| the existence of antennae that are connected to the | | | | Republish this article |
| creature's head. It is worth pointing out that while | | | | |
| most insects have antennae, there are a small | | | | Ask a Question About this Article |
| number of exceptions. One more charcteristic is the | | | | >> What is the type of bug with tweezers on |
| presence of wings. It's worth noting that while | | | | their tail? |
| insects have wings at some point during their | | | | >> Would anyone kindly inform me why my |
| development, that there are a small number of insect | | | | questions keep disappearing? |
| spieces that do not fly. One final characteristic is the | | | | >> Black chrysallis florida. I found a large black ... |
| insect's hard exoskeleton. | | | | >> I have a frog that have decided to live in |
| It is fairly straightforward to identify insects based | | | | my ornament on my front door. How can I get rid of |
| on those characteristics. The complications come | | | | it? |
| during certain periods of the insect's life cycle when it | | | | |