![]() The endocuticle is thick and is constructed of crisscross layers of fibrous chitin (a tough, semi-transparent substance which acts as a protective shell) and proteins, while the exocuticle is rigid and sclerotized (sclerotin is an insoluble protein that spreads in the chitin of the cuticle of arthropods, hardening and darkening by a natural tanning process). Flying insects have an outer skeleton or cuticle which is made of two layers – the epicuticle, a waxy, water-resistant layer, and the thicker procuticle, which is further made up of an outer layer (exocuticle), and an inner layer (endocuticle). Their body is supported by a hard outer covering. Insects possess segmented but interconnected bodies. There is usually a spot of color within a colored ring. However, these ‘eyelike markings’ can also be found on the wings of some insects like the butterflies. Normally, flying insects have one to three simple ocelli or eyes in the head apart from a pair of evolved compound eyes. ![]() All three abdominal units are distinct, but interconnected. ![]() Segmented abdomen (having the digestive, excretory, and reproductive organs).A three-segmented thorax (usually with three pairs of jointed legs and two or four wings).The head (with the mouthparts, compound and simple eyes or ocelli, and two sensory antennae).An insect’s body can be separated into three sections, which are as follows. Insects also have circulatory and nervous systems. The males and females of many species of flying insects differ from each other in body structure. Campodeiform (elongated, flattened, and active).The young ones of these insects are called ‘nymphs’.Ĭomplete metamorphosis is a term associated with the thriving insect groups, wherein the hatched egg produces a worm-like form like any of the following. Some flying insects do not develop wings until the adult stage in what is called an incomplete metamorphosis. incomplete metamorphosis and complete metamorphosis. There are two types of metamorphoses, viz. Metamorphosis is crucial in an insect’s life and refers to a change in its structure or form during its developmental stage. And of course, some winged insects like the butterflies are synonymous with beauty. On the lighter side, flying insects like the grasshopper, cockroaches are considered a culinary delicacy and nutritive (for proteins) diet in some countries. Insects like the wasps are natural scavengers of flies among other insects, or the scavenging beetles that contribute towards producing topsoil, play an important role in preserving the ecological balance. ![]() Some are active pollinators, like the butterflies, while others, like the industrious bees, produce honey, wax, lacquer, or the caterpillars produce silk. Flying insects or pests, like the locusts found outdoors, destroy crops. Some among these pests like mosquitoes, roaches (cockroach), and flies are disease carriers, while others like termites destroy your furniture moths damage your clothes, and beetles destroy your leather goods or woolen carpets. There are bloodsucking flying insects like the mosquitoes and bed bugs. A familiar and not-too-incorrect term ‘pests’ refers to flying insects that are found indoors, in homes. Following is the classification of some commonly-found flying insects–grasshoppers and crickets (Order Orthoptera), cockroaches and mantids (Order Dictyoptera), butterflies and moths (Order Lepidoptera), beetles (Order Coleoptera), flying ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies (Order Hymenoptera), dragonflies and damselflies (Order Odonata), fleas (Order Siphonaptera), flies (Order Diptera), stick and leaf flying insects (Order Phasmida), winged termites (Order Isoptera), cicadas, aphids, hoppers, and water bugs (Order Hemiptera).įlying insects are found indoors as well as outdoors. Flying Insect Identification GuideĮntomologists have classified flying insects into 25 groups. Other studies on insect flight have revealed an interesting fact, high atmospheric oxygen is conducive to the appearance of gigantic insects. Some modern flying insects belonging to the group Neoptera have foldable wings that they can beat faster as compared to the primitive insect groups. Flying insects may be small creatures but are a good example of a successful adaptation theory, having survived all conditions on earth. ![]()
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