Parts of an Insect

1. Parts of an Insect

2. HEAD The head is the front of the three body parts of an adult insect. It bears the eyes (usually a pair of compound eyes), the antennae and the mouthparts.

3. Thorax The thorax is the middle of the three body parts of an adult insect. It is located just behind the head. It is composed of 3 segments. It bears 3 pairs of legs (one on each segment) and usually 2 pairs of wings. Some insects have only 1 pair of wings.

4. Abdomen The abdomen is the last of the three body parts of an adult insect. The abdomen is divided into eleven smaller segments, although these are not always easy (or even possible) to see. It is not uncommon for the abdomen to be longer than the head and thorax combined. The abdomen contains much of the digestive and respiratory systems of the insect and on each side has a row of small structures, called spiracles, through which they breathe.

5. On the next screen we will learn more about insects. Let’s watch the movie to learn more about insects.

7. Life Cycle of A Butterfly

8. Tiny eggs are laid by the female on a leaf. Around 5 days later, a tiny wormlike creature will hatch. Egg Stage

9. Caterpillar Stage The caterpillar is the primary eating and growth stage of the insect.

10. Pupa Stage The pupa is the resting or transformation stage, and within it the marvelous transformation from caterpillar to adult butterfly takes place.

11. Butterfly Stage A butterfly or moth is emerging now.  The pupa skin splits, the limp, damp butterfly crawls out.  The wings are expanded and blood is pumping into them.  A little warming from the sun and it is now ready to fly off to feed and then lay its eggs.

12. Ladybugs

14. There are nearly 5,000 different kinds of ladybugs.

15. Parts of a Ladybug

16. The male ladybug is usually smaller than the female.

17. A ladybug beats its wings 85 times a second when it flies.

18. Ladybugs chew from side to side and not up and down like people do.

19. Ladybugs make a chemical that smells and tastes terrible so that birds and other predators won't eat them.

20. Ladybug Life Cycle Eggs Mother ladybugs lay 10 to 15 eggs on the bottom of a leaf. The eggs look like tiny, long, yellow jelly beans.

21. Ladybug Life Cycle Larvae Larvae crawl out of their eggs and begin to look for food. They look like tiny alligators--and they bite! As the rapidly grow, the larvae shed theirskin several times.

22. Ladybug Life Cycle Pupa In about two weeks, the bigger larvae begin to look a little different, something like a lobster without legs and claws. They attach themselves to a leaf and hardly move at all. They are doing something extraordinary under their skins.

23. Ladybug Life Cycle Adult Ladybug In another few days the ladybug splits its pupa and emerges looking very different. Now it looks just like its mother--a perfect adult ladybug.

24. Now it is your turn!! Open kidpix and draw an insect. Be sure and show the three body parts!