Transcript INSECTS

INSECTS
Life Cycles
COOL WORDS
Molt
Pupa
Abdomen
Adult
Beetle
Culture
Darkling beetle
Dead
Dropping
Insect
Larva
Life cycle
Living
Mealworm
Segment
Stage
Thorax
What is Mealworm



They are not worms
They are larva.
They become darkling beetles.
More about Mealworms



Mealworms have six stubby legs.
Their waste is called frass
They have 13 segments:



1 head
3 thoracic segments
9 abdominal segments
Lets do the math!







1 head
+
3 thoracic segments
+
9 abdominal segments
=
13 segments in all
Pupa





Mealworms will molt 5 times in about 2
months
The final time they pupate
Pupae don’t eat
They only twitch when it is disturbed
2 or 3 weeks later the cuticle splits near the
head and …
A Darkling Beetle
will emerge





Will start out brown or tan
As it matures it darkens until it is black
They are true bugs
They have jointed legs (Arthropoda)
They have an exoskeleton

C:\Documents and
Settings\student.EGK12\Desktop\Complete_M
etamorphosis.asf
What is the relationship of plants
and insects

Mealworms and
darkling beetles are
rarely seen in the wild.
Mealworms are more
likely to be found in
barns, grain storage
facilities and food
preparation areas.

Mealworms are bought
and sold as bait or food
for pets
Can insects be harmful to people or
helpful?

What do you think about the mealworm? Is it
helpful or harmful to people?
What can people learn from insects?
Special thanks to





FOSS (Full Option Science System)
AIMS (Activities Integrating Math and
Science) Critters
www.unitedstreaming.com
www.office.micorsoft.com
www.fotosearch.com/its5223/itf13905/
Neat facts about wax
worms
The wax worm is the larva of the greater wax
moth. The adult moth lays its eggs in
beehives, where the growing larvae feed on
honey and wax. A small beehive can be
overrun by the larvae and the hive can be
destroyed.
WAX WORMS FACTS
Wax worm larvae are white to tan, plump, segmented, soft
and rather active.
The larva has 13 segments
Head
Three thoracic
Nine abdominal
Six legs
4 pairs of prolegs equipped with claspers for holding on to
surfaces
It has spiracles (stiff hairs) on both sides of its body
Spinnerits where silk is extruded through.
Interesting words about Wax worms










Abdomen
Adult
Bristles
Claspers
Cocoon
Dead
Head
Insect
Larva
Moth






Proleg
Pupa
Segment
Silk
Stage
thorax