# insect (*Insecta*) Insects are tiny creatures that can be found almost everywhere! They have six legs and many can fly. Some insects are colorful and help flowers grow by spreading pollen. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Forests, Grasslands, Urban areas ![insect](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/18333696/medium.jpeg) Photo: TOUROULT Julien, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/18333696) ## Appearance The insect has a hard exoskeleton and a body divided into three parts: a head with antennae, a thorax with six legs and often wings, and an abdomen. They come in an incredible array of shapes, sizes, and colors, from shiny metallic green beetles to fuzzy brown moths. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta ## Interesting facts - A single monarch butterfly can fly thousands of miles to warmer places for winter! - If all the insects on Earth were weighed, they would outweigh all humans and other animals combined! - Some insects, like beetles, actually chew their food with jaws that move sideways. - The loudest insect in the world is a cicada, making sounds louder than a jackhammer! ## Special abilities - **Super Shields:** An insect has a tough exoskeleton that helps protect its soft body from predators and keeps it from drying out. - **Eye-Spy Masters:** Insects have special compound eyes, made of many tiny lenses, that help them see movement and detect danger all around. - **Shape-Shifting Life:** Many insects can undergo metamorphosis, changing their body shape completely as they grow from a larva into an adult. - **Tiny Chemical Talkers:** Insects can release special chemical scents called pheromones that help them find mates or warn others of danger. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 1-300 mm - **Size:** 0.1-500 mm - **Lifespan:** 1-2000 days - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Insects eat everything from plants and nectar to other insects and decaying matter! - **Age differences:** Many insects, like caterpillars and butterflies, eat completely different foods in their larva and adult stages. - **Primary Foods:** Leaves, Nectar, Other insects, Wood, Fungi, Decaying matter - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed Bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Helps many flowering plants reproduce by carrying pollen between them. - **Eaten by:** Common Frog (*Rana temporaria*) — A common food source for many amphibians, like frogs, providing vital energy. - **Eaten by:** [Quaking Aspen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/quaking-aspen) (*Populus tremuloides*) — Many insect larvae feed on its leaves and bark, influencing its health. - **Hunts:** Harlequin Ladybug (*Harmonia axyridis*) — This beetle actively preys on aphids, helping control garden pests. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Glowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/glowing): Pertaining to organisms that emit light through bioluminescence or fluorescence. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Be careful not to touch insects you don't know, as some can bite or sting. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify insect? Look for six legs, antennae, three body sections and the shape of the wings. Beetles have hardened front wings; flies have just one working pair. Tiny insects may need a close view before their group is clear. Insect Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is insect's wingspan? 1-300 mm ### How big is insect? 0.1-500 mm ### How long does insect live? 1-2000 days ### What does insect eat? Insects eat everything from plants and nectar to other insects and decaying matter! ### Where is insect usually found? Forests, Grasslands, Urban areas ### How does insect hunt? Foraging ### How many legs does insect have? 6 ## Where to spot - [Audubon Insectarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/audubon-insectarium) — Louisiana, US · Zoo - [Butterfly House, Missouri Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/butterfly-house-missouri-botanical-garden) — Missouri, US · Zoo - [Monsanto Insectarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/monsanto-insectarium) — Missouri, US · Zoo [View all places to see insect](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/insect) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Insect: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/insect)