🔵Hexapoda is a class of animals that includes insects.

🔵Hexapoda is derived from the Greek words hexa meaning six, and poda meaning feet.

🔵Insects are characterized by having three pairs of legs.

🔵Hexapoda also includes springtails and dipterans.

🔵The body of an insect is divided into three parts: head, thorax, and abdomen.

🔵The head of an insect contains the eyes, mouthparts, and antennae.

🔵The thorax of an insect contains the wings and legs.

🔵The abdomen of an insect contains the digestive, reproductive, and respiratory systems.

🔵Insects breathe through a system of tubes called tracheae.

🔵Insects have an exoskeleton made of chitin, which provides protection and support.

🔵Insects are cold-blooded and cannot regulate their body temperature.

🔵Insects undergo metamorphosis as they develop from eggs into adults.

🔵Incomplete metamorphosis is a type of development in which the young resemble miniature adults.

🔵Complete metamorphosis is a type of development in which the young go through distinct larval stages before becoming adults.

🔵Insects can be found in almost every habitat on Earth.

🔵Insects play important roles in pollination, decomposition, and pest control.

🔵Some insects are parasitic and feed on the blood of other animals.

🔵Some insects are predators and feed on other insects.

🔵The honeybee is an important insect because it produces honey and pollinates crops.

🔵The silkworm is an important insect because it produces silk.

🔵The mosquito is a vector for diseases such as malaria and the Zika virus.

🔵A termite is an insect that feeds on wood and can cause damage to buildings.

🔵The butterfly is an insect that undergoes complete metamorphosis.

🔵The grasshopper is an insect that can jump up to 20 times its body length.

🔵The ladybug is an insect that is a predator of aphids and other pests.

🔵The fruit fly is an insect commonly used in genetic research.

🔵The cockroach is an insect that can survive in a wide range of environments.

🔵The firefly is an insect that produces bioluminescent light.

🔵The ants are social insects that live in colonies.

🔵The beetle is the largest group of insects, with over 400,000 species.

🔵The cicada is an insect known for its loud buzzing sound.

🔵A cricket is an insect known for its chirping sound.

🔵The dragonfly is an insect known for its ability to hover and fly backward.

🔵The flea is an insect that feeds on the blood of mammals and birds.

🔵The moth is an insect that is attracted to light.

🔵The praying mantis is an insect that is a predator of other insects.

🔵The spider is not an insect but belongs to the class Arachnida.

🔵The tick is an arachnid that feeds on the blood of mammals and can transmit diseases.

🐜Social insects are insects that live in large groups or colonies and have complex social organization.

🐝The three types of social insects are termites, bees, and ants.

🐜The most famous type of social insect is the honeybee.

🐝Social insects are important for ecosystem health and functioning.

🐜Social insects have castes or specialized roles within the colony.

🐝The three castes of social insects are queens, drones, and workers.

🐜The queen is responsible for reproduction within the colony.

🐝Drones are male social insects that have the sole purpose of mating with the queen.

🐜Workers are responsible for tasks such as foraging, nursing, and defending the colony.

🐝Social insects have pheromones that help them communicate with each other.

🐜Pheromones are chemical signals that can be used to mark trails, identify members of the colony, and signal alarm.

🐝The division of labor in social insects allows for efficient colony functioning.

🐜Social insects have a hierarchical social organization.

🐝In many social insect colonies, there is a dominant queen that produces the majority of the offspring.

🐜Some social insects have multiple queens within a colony.

🐝Social insects can live in a variety of habitats, including underground, in trees, and in the soil.

🐜Social insects are ectothermic, meaning they rely on external sources of heat to regulate their body temperature.

🐝Social insects can exhibit eusociality, a type of social behavior characterized by cooperative brood care, overlapping generations, and division of labor.

🐜The study of social insects is called sociobiology.

🐝The evolution of eusociality in insects is thought to be driven by the benefits of kin selection.

🐜Kin selection is the idea that individuals will behave altruistically toward close relatives in order to increase the chances of their genes being passed on.

🐝Some social insects, such as leafcutter ants, have evolved complex agricultural systems.

🐜Leafcutter ants cultivate a type of fungus that they use as a food source.

🐝Some social insects have mutualistic relationships with other organisms.

🐜Ants and aphids have a mutualistic relationship where the ants protect the aphids in exchange for a sweet substance called honeydew.

🐝Some social insects, such as wasps, can be aggressive and have painful stings.

🐜Bees are important pollinators of many crops.

🐝The decline of bee populations worldwide is a major concern for agriculture and food security.

🐜Some social insects, such as termites, can cause significant damage to buildings and other structures.

🐝Termites are known for their ability to break down wood and other plant material.

🐜Some social insects, such as army ants, have complex migratory behavior.

🐝Army ants travel in large groups and can consume large numbers of prey in their path.

🐜Some social insects, such as butterflies, have developed mimicry as a means of protection.

🐝Some social insects, such as fire ants, can be invasive and cause harm to native ecosystems.