Page 42 - One Million Things: Animal Life - The Incredible Visual Guide

DRAGONFLIES These fast-moving predators have alternately beating front and rear wings that allow them to fly through the air with incredible control. Equipped with large eyes, dragonflies use their excellent vision to detect unsuspecting prey, such as flies, then dart in to make the kill. Southern hawker dragonfly Flattened body allows cockroach to squeeze into tiny crevices

American cockroach Praying mantis

Southern hawker dragonfly has a slender body and long, thin wings GRASSHOPPERS AND CRICKETS Although grasshoppers and crickets have large wings, they usually employ their long hind legs to leap away from danger. All have chewing mouthparts. Grasshoppers and their relatives, such as locusts, are plant-eaters, while crickets are scavengers or omnivores. COCKROACHES These mainly nocturnal insects are very sensitive to vibrations and scurry for cover if danger threatens. Most common in tropical and subtropical regions, cock

Desert locust Male locusts “sing” to attract females by rubbing hind legs against wings

Buff-tailed bumblebee Emerald cockroach

Leaf cutter ants Two long antennae wasp
successful animal group on Earth. There are more

Ichneumon wasp

INSECTS From bees to butterflies, insects form the most than one million named insect species, with probably another 10 to 30 million yet to be discovered. An insect body has three parts. The head has two compound eyes and a pair of antennae, the thorax carries three pairs of legs and, usually, two pairs of wings, and the abdomen contains reproductive organs. Insects are found everywhere, except for the oceans. WASPS, BEES, AND ANTS These insects have a narrow “waist” between their thorax and abdomen, and, in females, a stin

40 Cuckoo wasp of flowers.

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