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Theinsects They are a type of animal belonging to the kingdom of arthropods, characterized by having the body protected by an external skeleton (called exoskeleton), with the legs and the body in an articulated way.
The body of insects, then, it is characterized by being divided into head, thorax and abdomen, in addition to a pair of antennae, one or two pairs of wings and three pairs of legs.
The insects They are normally very small in size, although they can reach up to 20 centimeters in length. The largest are those that live in the tropics, especially the jungle, because they receive a large amount of sunlight that allows plants to grow and store carbon. Plants are the central food of insects, although some feed on other animals that are easy to catch.
- See also:Examples of arthropods.
Classification
A common classification that is made on insects is in different orders:
- First order: First-order insects are Coleoptera type, such as beetles. It is the group that contains the largest number of species, with two pairs of wings. In some cases they attack food crops.
- Second order: The second order are the dictator type, such as cockroaches. They also usually have two types of wings, and in some cases they are considered pests.
- Third order: The third order (diptera) are flies, with a single pair of wings that helps them fly. They are considered serious pests.
- Fourth order: The Mayfly is the main family of fourth order insects, which only survive a couple of days to mate and lay their eggs, as well as being harmless to humans.
- Fifth order: The fifth order are from the Leipidoptera group, such as butterflies and moths, which have two pairs of large wings and are considered a serious pest because they are responsible for the destruction of crops.
- Sixth order: The sixth order are ants and bees, most of which have two pairs of wings. Some can leave painful and poisonous bites.
- Seventh order: Dragonflies and damselfies are the seventh order insects, whose larvae live in water. They eat insects.
- Eighth order: Grasshoppers are the main ones of the eighth order, the eighth, with two pairs of long wings although some do not have wings.
- Ninth order: The ninth order is made up of stick insects, which have mouthparts for chewing.
Examples of insects
Ant | Wasp |
Wax moth | European hornet |
House fly | Gray grasshopper |
Ant-lion | Warrior ant |
Mallow bug | Castor silkworm |
Asian hornet | Bovine horsefly |
Migrating lobster | Red Ant |
Tiger mosquito | Dung beetle |
Butterfly bird wings | Firefly |
Bumblebee | Seven point ladybug |
Dog flea | Rhinoceros beetle |
Lacewing | Earwig |
Water beetle | Clothes popilla |
Manure fly | Cricket |
Cockroach | Egyptian lobster |
Scorpion | Mole cricket |
Bee | Scorpion fly |
Springtails | Owl butterfly |
Oleander aphid | Silkworm |
Cicada | Cabbage butterfly |
Aquatic scorpion | Vulgar dragonfly |
Termite | Praying mantis |
Stable fly | Woodworm |
Graveyard beetle | Silverfish |
Cabbage bug | Meal worm |
Importance of insects
Among all insects they account for around 70% of the planet's species, although many of them have not yet been cataloged.
The importance of insects in ecosystem is total, and some studies affirm that without them, life on our planet could not survive more than a month. Perhaps the most important of its functions is pollination, without which many species could not reproduce.
Insects also serve as food for many species (birds and mammals) and have a function of recycling and eliminating dirt, or dead organic matter.