Parts of Insects

INSECTS ANATOMY

The insect body is a slightly to pronounced elongate, cylindrical structure. Its shape is determined by the integument and associated muscles. As is the case with the wide variation in external appearance among taxa, there is considerable variation in internal structure. The same basic systems are normally present in all insects, of course, but their expression varies with their behavior and ecology.

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The HEAD holds most of the sensory organs, including the mouth, antennae, and eyes. An insect’s mouth is much more complicated than our own mouths, and the shape varies widely between different insects. A pair of antennae are used to taste and smell the world. The compound eyes are made up of many tiny lenses; the more lenses, the sharper the vision. In addition to eyes on the head, some insects have light-sensitive organs in various places on their bodies.

MOUTHPARTS Insects have a wide variety of mouthparts, including mandibles for chewing and slicing, sharp piercing straws for drinking sap or blood, and long unrolling tongues used to harvest nectar from the deepest flowers.

ANTENNAE Most insects depend heavily on their two antennae to taste and smell the world around them. Insects with large and elaborate antennae usually have a better sense of smell. Some insects can detect odors from over a mile away!

The THORAX is the insect’s central body region. It contains all the muscles for the legs and wings, which are attached to this part of the body. Insects have six segmented legs, which take many different forms depending on their function. For example, legs might be modified for swimming, jumping, capturing prey, or holding on to a mate. Most insects have four wings, but some insects have none. Wings can be membranous, covered in loose scales, or modified into tiny gyroscopes or hardened covers.

EYES Insects have a pair of large compound eyes with many tiny lenses. Some insects’ eyes wrap around their entire heads, allowing for 360-degree vision. Many insects also have small, light-sensing eyes called ocelli on top of their heads

The ABDOMEN is the final and largest body region. It holds most of the insect’s guts and reproductive organs. Some insects breathe directly through skin or gills, but most breathe through small holes on the sides of the body, called spiracles. The reproductive organs are often very complicated structures that can take many different forms. In male insects, they can be used as claws or sound-making apparatuses. In females they can be modified into piercing spears or stingers.