Page 136 - DK Children's Encyclopedia

Insects SEE ALSO

▸ ▸ Animal groups
p.22

Insects are the largest group of animals, and are found all ▸ ▸ Eggs p.86
over the world. They have three pairs of legs and a tough ▸ ▸ Invertebrates
outer covering, called an exoskeleton. Many insects have p.139

wings and can fly. ▸ ▸ Metamorphosis
p.163
▸ ▸ Migration p.166

Feelers called antennae
Butterflies help the butterfly
to smell nectar and
A butterfly changes a lot in its Swallowtail stay balanced. Many insects have
life cycle. It starts as an egg, then butterfly wings, which let
hatches into a caterpillar. It wraps them fly around.
into a chrysalis before hatching
again as a butterfly.

Body parts
Insects’ bodies are divided
into three parts: the head,
the thorax, and the abdomen.
They have three pairs of legs
There are attached to the thorax and one
900,000 their heads.
pair of antennae on
more than

different types Patches of color on Thorax
of insects the butterfly’s wing tell
in the world. other animals that it is Head
not good to eat. Abdomen

Red wood ant

Desert locust
nymph
Stag beetle
Ants Grasshoppers Beetles
Ants live together in groups called These insects can leap Beetles are found on land and
colonies, with thousands of 20 times their body length. in water all over the world. They
workers and a queen. They They can also fly fast, have hard, shiny outer wings
are small but strong—ants can reaching speeds of up that close over a soft inner set
lift 20 times their body weight. to 8 mph (13 kph). of wings, to protect them.

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