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Any of numerous usually small arthropod animals of the class Insecta, having an adult stage characterized by three pairs of legs and a body segmented into head, thorax, and abdomen and usually having two pairs of wings. Insects include the flies, crickets, mosquitoes, beetles, butterflies, and bees.
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Insects (from Latin: insectum, translation of Greek: entomon - threaded) are a class within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body (head, thorax, and abdomen), three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae. They are among the most diverse group of animals on the planet and include more than a million described species and represent more than half of all known living organisms.[2][3] The number of extant species is estimated at between six and ten million,[2][4][5] and potentially represent over 90% of the differing metazoan life forms on Earth.[6] Insects may be found in nearly all environments, although only a small number of species occur in the oceans, a habitat dominated by another arthropod group, the crustaceans.
The life cycles of insects vary but most hatch from eggs. Insect growth is constrained by the inelastic exoskeleton and development involves a series of molts. The immature stages can differ from the adults in structure, habit and habitat and can include a passive pupal stage in those groups that undergo complete metamorphosis. Insects that undergo incomplete metamorphosis lack a pupal stage and adults develop through a series of nymphal stages. The higher level relationship of the hexapoda is unclear. Fossilized insects of enormous size have been found from the Paleozoic Era, including giant dragonflies with wingspans of 55 to 70 cm (22-28 in). The most diverse insect groups appear to have coevolved with flowering plants.
Insects typically move about by walking, flying or occasionally sinking and swimming at the same time. Because it allows for rapid yet stable movement, many insects adopt a tripedal gait in which they walk with their legs touching the ground in alternating triangles. Insects are the only invertebrates to have evolved flight. Many insects spend at least part of their life underwater, with larval adaptations that include gills and some adult insects are aquatic and have adaptations for swimming. Some species, like water striders, are capable of walking on the surface of water.
Insects are mostly solitary, but some insects, such as certain bees, ants, and termites are social and live in large, well-organized colonies. Some insects, like earwigs, show maternal care, guarding their eggs and young. Insects can communicate with each other in a variety of ways. Male moths can sense the pheromones of female moths over distances of many kilometers. Other species communicate with sounds: crickets stridulate, or rub their wings together, to attract a mate and repel other males. Lampyridae in the beetle order Coleoptera communicate with light. Humans regard certain insects as pests and attempt to control them using insecticides and a host of other techniques. Some insects damage crops by feeding on sap, leaves or fruits, a few bite humans and livestock, alive and dead, to feed on blood and some are capable of transmitting diseases to humans, pets and livestock. Many other insects are considered ecologically beneficial and a few provide direct economic benefit. Silkworms and bees have been domesticated by humans for the production of silk and honey.
What else can I help you with?
The anthropods with 3 body segments and six legs are?
This is effectively the definition of insects.
Definition of social insects?
Social insects are insects that live in large, organized colonies with overlapping generations, division of labor, and cooperative care of the young. Examples include ants, bees, wasps, termites, and some species of beetles. These insects exhibit complex social behaviors, communication systems, and caste systems.
What insects have a back bone?
There are no insects with a backbone because they are not vertabrates. They are in the category of invertabrates. The outside of an insect is hard, because they have an exoskeleton, which means that they have their skeleton on the outside, not the inside.
Do all insects have 6 or 8 legs?
Yes, pretty much by definition. Obviously they can lose legs in accidents etc. but they come as standard with six legs.
Which are most closely related insects and lobsters or insects and birds?
Insects and Lobsters
What is the definition of insecticide?
A spray or liquid that kills insects
What is the definition for invertebrae?
Animals that do not have a backbone. Such as snails, insects, worms, etc.
The anthropods with 3 body segments and six legs are?
This is effectively the definition of insects.
What is the definition orthoupt?
an order of insects that comprises the grasshoppers, crickets, katydids, etc.
What animal that have no backbone?
By definition, invertebrates. Worms, jelly fish, snails, insects.
What is a 4 syllable insect?
An injured one? Insects by definition have 6 legs.
Name some eight legged insects?
By definition, insects have six legs. There are, therefore, no insects that have eight legs. However, the family of arachnids are classed as having eight legs. These arachnids are often mistaken for insects, but are actually a completely different classification.
Is a wasp an invertebrate?
Yes, all insects lack an internal skeleton and backbone so they are by definition invertebrates.
Are butterflies insect or animal?
All insects are animals. Insecta is a class under the kingdom Animalia. Butterflies are insects, thus they are also animals.
Do all spiders and insects have the same number of body parts?
No. By definition, all spiders have eight legs. Insects have a varying number of legs (think of a centipede and millipede), but always an even number.
Is a butterfly an insect?
Yes, they are (by definition) considered insects. They are in the insect order Lepidoptera and are classified with insects because they have a head, thorax, and abdomen. They also have three pairs of walking legs, antennae and a pair of wings-which are the characteristics of most insects.
Definition of social insects?
Social insects are insects that live in large, organized colonies with overlapping generations, division of labor, and cooperative care of the young. Examples include ants, bees, wasps, termites, and some species of beetles. These insects exhibit complex social behaviors, communication systems, and caste systems.
