Page 50 - ICSE Science 3 : E-book

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Animals: Common Insects

Insects are very small animals with six legs. KEY CONCEPTS

They can adjust easily to the changes in
• Body parts of an insect
the environment. They are found almost
• Life cycle of an insect (butterfl y)
everywhere—in air, on land, in water and • Social insects
even beneath the soil, and on plants and • Useful insects

animals. There are several kinds of insects • Harmful insects
present on the earth. They diff er in size, • Remedies to prevent harmful eff ects
of insects on humans
shape, colour and other features. Some
• Ways to keep insects away
common insects that can be seen in our

surroundings include ants, beetles, bees,
fl ies, mosquitoes, grasshoppers and butterfl ies.

ant beetle bee fl y

mosquito grasshopper butterfl y

Some common insects found in our surroundings

Body Parts of an Insect

Insects do not have bones. Their body is covered by a hard outer covering called
exoskeleton made up of chitin. This provides protection, necessary support and

fl exibility to their body. An insect’s body is divided into three main parts—head,
thorax and abdomen.

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