Page 56 - ICSE Science 3 : E-book

Ways to Keep Insects Away

We can get rid of harmful insects in diff erent ways.

• Keep all the drains of your house clean, especially of kitchen and bathroom.

• Make sure the garbage cans are closed properly.

• Do not allow standing water to get collected

during rainy season.

• Use insect repellents for protection from insect

bites and stings. These can be applied to clothing,
shoes and mosquito nets.

• Wear light-coloured clothes, long-sleeved shirts

and full pants to avoid mosquito bites.

• Use chemicals called insecticides and pesticides A man spraying insecticide
to destroy insects and pests. in a fi eld.

• Use natural methods to keep insects away. For example, we can keep dried
neem leaves in clothes, or apply neem or kerosene oil on wooden furniture.

• Lemon juice or vinegar can be sprayed along Pest

the path of ants to keep them away. Mint also A pest is an insect or animal that
helps in keeping ants and fl ies away. destroys plants, trees and food.

TERMS TO KNOW

1. Insects: Very small animals with six legs
2. Exoskeleton: Hard outer covering of insect’s body that is made up of chitin

3. Chitin: A strong substance that forms the exoskeleton of insects
4. Antennae: Pair of long sensory organs on the head of insects
5. Compound eyes: Type of eyes that are made up of several smaller eye units

6. Thorax: The middle portion of an insect’s body that bears the legs and wings
7. Abdomen: The portion of the body below the thorax that contains diff erent body
systems
8. Social insect: Insect that lives with other insects of their kind in a large well-
organised colony

9. Nocturnal insects: Insects that are active during the night time

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