Insects

Insects are the most common animals on Earth. They have six legs, three body parts, and most have wings. Ants, beetles, butterflies, and grasshoppers are all insects. There are more insects than all other animals combined.

Insect Body Parts

Every insect has three main body parts: the head, thorax, and abdomen. The head has eyes and antennae for sensing the world. The thorax is the middle part where the legs and wings attach. The abdomen is the back part that holds the stomach and other organs.

Why Insects Matter

Insects are very important for life on Earth. Bees and butterflies pollinate flowers so plants can make fruit and seeds. Many birds and other animals eat insects for food. Some insects, like dung beetles, help clean up waste in nature.

Fun Facts

• There are about 10 quintillion insects alive on Earth at any time.
• A flea can jump 150 times its own body length.
• Dragonflies have been on Earth for over 300 million years, even before dinosaurs.

Did You Know?

Insects have their skeletons on the outside of their bodies! This hard outer shell is called an exoskeleton, and insects have to shed it to grow bigger.