Insecta - The Tiny Wonders

That Rule the World

Characteristics
Insects bodies are made up of 3 main regions:
Head, Thorax, and Abdomen.

compound eyes
ocelli
Consists of many small light

Classification
used for detecting light detectors that function together
intensity and direction to detect quick movements and
see in a broad range around the
body.

antenna wings
Eukaryota Domain
Mainly used for sensory perception, allows insects to fly and
detecting stimuli such as movement, move quickly and efficiently
odour, sound, humidity, and in the air. Also, it is used for
chemical cues. protection, creating sound

Animalia Kingdom
and communication.

mouth parts
Arthropoda Phylum
Serve to grasp, manipulate, and
process food. They can vary
legs
significantly in structure and function
head thorax
depending on the insect's diet.

abdomen Insects have usually six legs.

Insecta Class
It helps the movement,
sensory perception,
composed of the eyes feeding, mating, and
(compound eyes and The middle section of defence of the insect.
ocelli), antennae, and the body where the legs The last and the largest body region
mouthparts and wings are attached. that contains digestive and
reproductive organs

specialized in food-
collecting and
manipulation, sensory
perception, and neural
integration.

A CLOSER LOOK
Respiratory System INTERESTING FACTS

Trachea

cell
Insects are the most diverse group of organisms on earth.
Air sac

Tracheole Scientists have recorded over one million different insect species.

Tracheole It is estimated that there are about 10 quintillions

(10,000,000,000,000,000,000)
(10,000,000,000,000,000,000)

individual insects alive.

Trachea

Trachea

Insects

Air sac

fishes

amphibians
Spiracle Insects breathe through tiny openings on their bodies known as spiracles.
Spiracle

reptiles
These spiracles lead to a network of tubes called tracheae.

birds
Trachea are responsible for carrying oxygen directly to the insect's cells and
Tracheae tissues.
mammals

They repeatedly branch, forming smaller and smaller tubes known as tracheoles.
other invertebrates

corals
Tracheoles are only one cell thick and incredibly thin. This permits oxygen to
Tracheole enter the insect's bodily tissues and be utilized for cellular respiration.

crustaceans

Cell
mollusks

In cellular respiration, a waste called spiders and scorpions

carbon Dioxide is produced.

0 250,000 500,000 750,000 1,000,000
Co2 gets out of the cells and body
through the same path that oxygen
came inside. This chart represents the relative number of known living animal species.

Symbiotic Relationships
benefit harm neutral

MUTUALISM COMMENSALISM PARASITISM

Pseudomyrmex
Chelifer cancroides
ferruginea Pediculus humanus

PROTECTION Transportation Parasitic

Example: Example
Examples
Pseudomyrmex ferruginea and Vachellia hindsii Chelifer cancroides and Tenebrio molitor Pediculus humanus and Homo sapiens

Pseudoscorpions are small arachnids that The louse benefits from the human blood, which it
The plant provides the ants with food attach themselves to the body surfaces of needs to survive and reproduce, while the human
(such as sap) and shelter, and it return the the beetles. As a result, pseudoscorpions get experiences discomfort and potential health
ants defend the tree against herbivores protection from predators and can be easily problems and diseases from the louse's feeding
that try to eat the plant's leaves or transported while the beetle isn't harmed or activities.
Vachellia hindsii damage its stem. Tenebrio molitor benefited.
Homo sapiens

Main Factors of Insect Population Decline

Human Activities Impact on Insects other

15.1%
Intensive Agriculture
23.8%

Global Warming
Habitat destruction 6.3%
Deforestation, urbanization, and agricultural
expansion can lead to the destruction of insect
habitats, reducing their population and Wetlands/Rivers alteration
biodiversity. 8.8%

Pesticides
Climate change & Global Warming 12.6%

Rising temperatures and changes in weather

Deforestation
Climate Change patterns can affect their breeding, feeding, and 10.1%
migratory patterns.
Urbanization
Fertilizers 12.6%
Overexploitation 10.7%
Habitat Loss Over-harvesting of insects for food or other uses
can lead to their depletion and extinction.

Pollution
Air and water pollution can negatively affect
insects' reproduction, growth, and survival.
INSECTS COULD TOTALLY
VANISH WITHIN A CENTURY
Percentage decrease of
insect populations

41%
46% 37% 37%
68% 53% 49%
Caddisflies Butterflies Beetles Bees Mayflies Dragonflies Total Population