Insects
What are Insects?
Insects are one of the most diverse groups of animals in the world and include beetles, butterflies and bees. They are found across a range of different habitats including rainforests, deserts, mountain tops and even in the Antarctic. Insects also live in cities and other urban areas.
All insects have three body parts - a head, thorax and abdomen. They have 6 legs which are connected to the thorax.
Lacewings are an insect with large compound eyes. Their eyes let them see in every direction at once making them a great hunter.
All insects belong to a larger groups of animals called arthropods. This means they have a segmented body covered in an exoskeleton and pairs of jointed limbs.
There are over one million known arthropod species. Arthropods include insects, arachnids, myriapods and crustaceans.
Case study – native bees
Appearance
Australia is home to over 1500 species of native social and solitary bees as well as a number of introduced species. Bees have 2 antennae and 2 pairs of wings extending from the thorax. Bees have a proboscis for extracting nectar from flowers.
The teddy bear bee is one of Australia's largest bees.
Habitat
Native bees nest in places such as hollow trunks, tree branches, rock crevices and in underground burrows. They are also known to build small hives in wall cavities and the brickwork of houses.
Some types of native social bees can be kept in built hives.
Role in the ecosystem
Native bees are pollinators of native flowering plants. They are also important for the pollination of agricultural crops.
Head
The head includes the eyes, antannae and mouth parts. Bees have compound eyes which are sensitive to light. Their antennae are used for smell and touch. Bees have a proboscis that is used for sucking up nectar and water.
Thorax
Bees have 3 pairs of jointed legs which all extend from the thorax. The wings are joined to the upper part of the thorax.
Abdomen
The abdomen has 7 segments. Some species have a stinger.
Metallic green carpenter bees make their home inside the dry flower spikes of grass trees and in soft dead trunks of bankias.
Invertebrate explorer digital book
Find out more
Written by teachers, the Invertebrate Explorer digital book explores the incredible world of Australian invertebrates.
Students can use the book to investigate classification, features, adaptations and habitats of a variety of Australian invertebrates through narrated videos, stunning images, interactive activities and detailed text.
Content supports living things, Australian animals and class studies on invertebrates.