Insects

Insects are the most numerous life form on the planet (in terms of number of species). Approximately seven out of every eight living species are insects. Insects show a number of characteristics, the three by which they are most easily recognised are:-

1. Three body parts
   • Head
   • Thorax
   • Abdomen
2. Three pairs of legs
3. Two pairs of wings

A photograph of a Red Admiral butterfly (Vanessa atalanta). Butterflies are some of the most well-known insects.

Related terms

• Abdomen
• Apterygota
• Blattodea
• Coleoptera
• Collembola
• Crane fly
• Dermaptera
• Diplura
• Diptera
• Endopterygota
• Exopterygota
• Head
• Hymenoptera
• Invertebrate
• Johnstons organ
• Minibeast
• Odonata
• Thorax
• Uniramia

Related groups of terms

• Arthropod Classes
• Broad groups of insects
• Insect Orders
• Insect life cycles

Related pages on this web site

• Insects & Man
• Key to adult insects
• The Insects - Class Insecta

See other words beginning with I