Insects are the most numerous class of animals (invertebrates, arthropods). Natural and evolutionary diversity is most represented here: insects, the species and names of which are numerous. According to scientists, there are more than two million species on Earth. Researchers have described only more than 1,000,000 of them. Interestingly, these arthropods occupy all possible ecological niches, occurring even in Antarctica. This allows us to say that you and I live on the planet of insects, without suspecting their true number.
Beetles
These are the most common insects (photos and names of some of them are below). These arthropods make up more than 40% of all insects in the world. Each year, scientists discover species previously unknown to science. Coleoptera is another name for beetles (insects). These creatures go through a full cycle of transformations in their life: from an egg and a larva to a pupa and an adult. These bugs of the most incredible colors and sizes are jumping everywhere, jumping, crawling around us. They can be found with confidence under the snag, and on the flower, and in the ground, and in the air.
The smallest and most gigantic beetles
The smallest - only 0.2 mm is the pero-winged beetle. In size, it is slightly more than ciliates-slippers. And the largest specimens are the lumberjack-titanium and the beetle-hercules. Their length is up to 20 cm. And among the European beetles, the leading position is occupied by the stag beetle. It is interesting that the largest representatives of the class can surpass their smallest brothers by one and a half thousand times!
Stag beetle
The names of insects often come from the appearance of animals. The name of the bug was given to beautiful and large horns, which are located in the upper part of the male’s body. Throughout life, this arthropod makes a complete transformation. And the length of its existence at the larval stage significantly exceeds the stay as a fully grown specimen as an adult. In the final image - just a few weeks. And before that, they can stay in the guise of a larva for 5-7 years - a fat inactive sedentary worm that lives mainly in rotten trees and is larger than an adult beetle in size.
Mantis
Many have probably heard about the sad fate of a male praying mantis: after mating, its own spouse eats it. But, by the way, this information is not entirely correct. According to researchers, insidious business occurs in about 50% of cases. Praying mantises have a very original look: they often portray aliens from far space. A head in the shape of a triangle, huge faceted eyes, front long limbs folded in a characteristic "prayer" pose (here the names of insects exactly coincide with the appearance of outlandish creatures). By the way, in ancient times, Muslims were sure that this mystical-looking animal turns towards Mecca, performing a prayer. Like it or not - the exact data is not presented. But the fact that the mantis is a master of camouflage and camouflage is obvious. And possessing such mimicry, he turns, sitting in an ambush and waiting for his prey, into various objects: a branch, a blade of grass, a stone or a flower. By the way, this creature, a truly unearthly species, is a terrifying predator: beetles and spiders are its main food. And in females even small lizards and snakes are used. The so-called praying mantis pose, exactly repeated in Chinese kung fu, is widely known.
Butterflies
These insects (photos and the names of some of them are below) spend most of their lives in the plain appearance of a caterpillar. Only a few days were given to them to impress everyone with its unimaginable colors of wings and beauty. The peacock eye caterpillar , for example, does not look very aesthetically pleasing, and even causes many to disgust with its appearance. It is either an adult: a butterfly that lives and pleases the eye for only about seven days. And here the names of insects are often given according to their appearance. On the wings of a butterfly are stunningly beautiful “eyes” resembling the colors of a peacock’s tail.
It is characteristic that butterflies can be very small, and can be very, very large. So, the scoop of titania agrippina reaches a wingspan of up to 28 centimeters!
Large insects
But actually, the largest of the existing insects are considered to be stick insects. Such specimens from Kalimantan reach a body length of more than 30 centimeters, and with extended limbs - more than half a meter. Some beetles are also famous for their gigantic sizes - up to 20 centimeters.
Healthy bees
The names of insects are various and diverse. Among them, we have not yet mentioned flies and ants, grasshoppers, for example, the wealth of forms and species of which is amazing. Many of them harm a person, some are neutral. But the bees are insects that bring us great benefit. And it's not just about honey, but even their poison and by-products are healing.
And the sounds (buzzing) made by a swarm of bees, according to modern researchers of insects, have positive energy and cure the body of many diseases. It is no coincidence that a night spent next to the bees in the apiary gives strength and vitality, strengthens health and immunity. And in modern medicine, a whole industry has emerged that deals with the treatment and healing with the help of bee products.
In order to produce just one kilogram of honey, these insects fly thousands of kilometers, moving from one flower to another, working from dawn to sunset. In addition, along the way, they pollinate many plants, which, thanks to bees, are able to reproduce.