AY Honors/Insects/Answer Key
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1. Do one of the following:
a. Mount a collection of 20 species of insects representing at least six different orders excluding moths or butterflies. (Carelessly mounted specimens will not be acceptable.)
(1) Place under each specimen a label showing the locality where caught, the date caught, and the collector's name. Labels should not be larger than 1/4 x 3/4 inches (6 mm x 20 mm).
(2) Identify insects with common names and genus or species level on second labels to be mounted below the first.
(3) Arrange all specimens neatly in an insect box according to orders and families. Orders should be pinned to the box rather than attached to the individual insect pins.
b. Make colored drawings or paintings of 20 species of insects, representing at least six different orders. Drawings or paintings need to be life size or larger, to show the details of small insects, and in natural coloring. Label the drawings with common names and genus or species level names.
c. Take color photographs of 20 species of insects, representing at least six different orders. All pictures should be in focus, close-ups and properly labeled, showing where photographed, the date photographed, common names and genus or species level names.
2. What are the distinguishing characteristics of an insect?
Insects possess segmented bodies supported by an exoskeleton, a hard outer covering made mostly of chitin. The body is divided into a head, a thorax, and an abdomen. The head supports a pair of sensory antennae, a pair of compound eyes, and mouth parts. The thorax has six legs (one pair per segment) and wings (if present in the species). The abdomen (made up of eleven segments some of which may be reduced or fused) has respiratory, excretory and reproductive structures.
