Portal:Insects
Insects (from Latin insectum, a calque of Greek ἔντομον [éntomon], “cut into sections”) are a class within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body (head, thorax, and abdomen), three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae. They are among the most diverse group of animals on the planet and include more than a million described species and represent more than half of all known living organisms. The number of extant species is estimated at between six and ten million, and potentially represent over 90% of the differing metazoan life forms on Earth. Insects may be found in nearly all environments, although only a small number of species occur in the oceans, a habitat dominated by another arthropod group, the crustaceans. Template:/box-footer
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The term "Lepidoptera" was coined by Carl Linnaeus in 1735 and is derived from the Ancient Greek words λεπίδος (scale) and πτερόν (wing). Lepidopteran species are characterised by more than 20 derived features, some of the most apparent being the scales covering their bodies and wings, and a proboscis. The scales are modified, flattened "hairs", and give butterflies and moths their extraordinary variety of colours and patterns. Butterflies and moths are holometabolous, meaning they undergo complete metamorphosis. Mating and the laying of eggs are normally carried out on or near the larval host plants. The larvae are commonly called caterpillars, and are markedly different from their adult moth or butterfly form, having a cylindrical body with a well developed head, mandible mouthparts, and 0–11 (usually 8) pairs of prolegs.
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- ... that tiny Paederus beetles may have caused some of the ten Plagues of Egypt?
- ... that the seeds of the European sedge Carex pilulifera may be dispersed by the ant Myrmica ruginodis?
- ... that the oldest known member of the mayfly family Neoephemeridae is the Eocene species Neoephemera antiqua?
- ... that Sphecius grandis, the Western cicada killer wasp, paralyzes cicadas for its offspring to eat after hatching?
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The yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae), is a mosquito that can spread the dengue fever, Chikungunya and yellow fever viruses, and other diseases. It can be recognized by white markings on legs and a marking in the form of a lyre on the thorax.
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