Life in the Hidden World - Creepy Crawlies Flashcards

Flashcards about insects, their behavior, and their relationship with their environment and humans.

What are some amazing hunting techniques used by predator insects?

Chasing prey quickly, waiting quietly to attack, building traps using silk, sand, or sticky substances, and working together to catch bigger prey.

What special body parts help predator insects catch food?

Spiky legs, sharp claws, strong mouthparts, and colors and patterns for hiding.

What are some characteristics of Champion Hunters?

Incredible eyesight, heads that can turn completely around, speed, and camouflage used by insects like the Praying Mantis.

What are some examples of special weapons and tools used by predator insects?

Fast strikes, special mouth parts, sticky substances, poison, legs for grabbing, and chemicals that confuse prey.

How does the Ant Lion catch prey?

By hiding at the bottom of its sandy pit and using powerful jaws like spring-loaded traps.

How does the Thread-waisted Wasp catch prey?

By injecting exactly the right amount of venom to paralyze prey without killing it to keep it fresh for its young.

How do some insects become masters of disguise?

By blending into their environment, changing their appearance to match specific plants, staying perfectly still for hours, and mimicking their prey.

What are some unique features of the Praying Mantis as a super hunter?

A special neck that lets them turn their head completely around, powerful muscles in their front legs, five eyes, and camouflage.

What adaptations make Dragonflies perfect aerial hunters?

Compound eyes with 30,000 lenses, special wing muscles for hovering and backwards flight, and a brain that processes visuals quickly.

What adaptations make Tiger Beetles speed champions?

Long, powerful legs; special adaptations in their feet; huge eyes; and metallic colors.

What are the characteristics of Bullet Ants as hunters?

A powerful sting, special signals for group attacks, strong jaws, and an excellent sense of smell.

How do social insects use group hunting tactics?

By using chemical signals to communicate, having different members with special jobs, and adjusting group size based on prey.

How do different habitats influence insect hunting styles?

Desert hunters deal with extreme heat, rainforest predators use trees and leaves, underground hunters feel vibrations, and water hunters have adaptations for catching prey in water.

What survival challenges do predator insects face?

Changing temperatures, loss of habitat, human activities disrupting hunting areas, and climate change affecting hunting success.

What is the difference between venom and poison in insects?

Venom must be injected through a bite or sting, while poison is harmful through touch or eating.

What are some characteristics of the most venomous insects?

They deliver stings that cause severe pain and swelling, and different insects use their venom in unique ways.

How do insects use toxic touch as a defense?

By releasing chemicals through glands in their skin that cause burning, itching, or blisters.

How do Fire Ants use a double defense?

By using both a painful sting and burning venom when they attack multiple times, and working together to defend their nest.

How do Blister Beetles use chemical protection?

They release a special chemical that causes painful blisters on skin when threatened.

How do insects utilize spitting as a form of protection?

They often spray acids that burn or irritate eyes and skin, and they can aim their spray with amazing accuracy.

How does Spitting Insects use spray attacks as a form of protection?

The insects can aim their spray with amazing accuracy at predators' faces.

How does Bombardier beetle deploy explosions to defend themselves?

With an audible pop, these beetles spray a concoction of boiling, irritating chemicals at predators that get too close.

How do insects become poisonous?

By getting poison from the specific plants they eat, producing their own chemicals, and poisonous parents passing their defenses to their offspring.

Why Insects Become Poisonous

Insects living in dangerous places usually develop stronger defenses.

How do insects use working together as a defense?

By living in groups to make their defenses stronger, sharing warning signals, and teaching their young which plants make them more toxic.

What are the effects of insect toxins on humans and animals?

They cause pain, swelling, and redness, and some people can have allergic reactions.

The effects of insect toxins on humans and animals

Doctors can identify insects by the marks their stings or poison leave.

What are some staying safe tips around chemical defenders like Yellow Jacket Wasps?

Learning to identify dangerous insects, giving insects space, avoiding sudden movements, and wearing proper clothing.

Staying Safe Around Chemical Defenders

Bright colors and patterns often signal that an insect is toxic.

How are insects helping medicine and what are some future discoveries?

Scientists study insect venom and poison to create new medicines and are learning how toxins might help treat serious diseases.

What are parasitic insects?

Insects that live on or inside another animal, called a host, and feed on the host’s body to survive.

What are some examples of real-life parasitic insects?

Parasitic wasps, botflies, and horse botflies.

Why do some insects become parasites?

To get food and safety from their host, so they don’t need to hunt.

How do parasitic insects find their hosts?

By using smell, temperature, movement, and sound to find the right host.

How do Cotesia Wasps help with pest control?

Attack tomato hornworms and keep them from eating garden plants.

How Tachinid Flies help with pest control?

Lay eggs on pests like stink bugs and moths; larvae kill the pest from within.

How do Glyptapanteles Wasps help with pest control?

Their larvae make the caterpillar stop moving and guard the wasp cocoons.

How do Parasites That Use Other Insects such as mosquitoes influence ?

Use mosquitoes to deliver their eggs to human skin, where the larvae grow under the surface.

What are some examples of Internal Parasites like Xenos?

Live inside paper wasps and can affect how the wasp behaves.

How do Parasites Control Their Hosts?

Some parasites take over the host’s behaviour to protect their young.

How internal parasites live inside the host’s body?

Some parasites live inside the host’s body—these are internal parasites.

Human Botflies

Most parasitic insects only harm other insects, not humans but some species, such as Human Botflies, can infect people in tropical areas.

Are Parasitic Insects Dangerous to People?

Knowing about them helps people understand how to stay safe.

Why are Parasitic Insects important?

Parasitic insects help balance ecosystems by keeping pest populations under control.

What Role of Insects play in Mythology and Culture?

Insects appear in stories, myths, and beliefs from cultures all over the world.

Why Scarab Beetles are important insect symbol in Mythology and Culture?

Worshipped in Ancient Egypt as a symbol of rebirth and the rising sun.

Why Butterflies are important insect symbol in Mythology and Culture?

In many cultures, they represent the soul, transformation, or freedom.

The Role of Insects in Agriculture

Insects help farms and gardens in many ways, but some can also cause damage.

Why ladybugs are Helpful Insects in Farming?

Eat aphids and other small bugs that harm crops.

Why Locusts are Harmful Insects in Farming?

Travel in swarms and eat entire fields, causing major crop loss.

Beekeeping and Honey Production

Beekeeping is the practice of raising bees to collect honey, beeswax, and more.

Edible Insects Around the World

In many countries, people eat insects as a healthy, sustainable food source.

Why grasshoppers are Popular Insects Used in Cooking?

Fried with spices and eaten as snacks in Mexico and Southeast Asia.

The Role of silkworms and the History of Silk

Silk is a soft, shiny fibre made by silkworms as they spin their cocoons.

Insect-Based Dyes and Pigments

Some insects are used to create vibrant colours for dyes and food.

Colour from Creepy Crawlies

Tiny bugs that live on cacti; crushed to make red dye.

How Insects Affect Public Health

Some insects can spread diseases to humans through bites or contaminated food.

Why Mosquitoes are danger for human Public Health?

Can spread malaria, dengue, and Zika virus through their bites.

Why Houseflies are danger for human Public Health?

Land on food and spread bacteria that cause food poisoning.

Why Tsetse Flies are danger for human Public Health?

Transmit sleeping sickness in parts of Africa.

Why is Insect Conservation so important?

Many helpful insects are in danger due to pollution, pesticides, and habitat loss.

Inspiration, Innovation, and Impact for human

Insects have inspired artists and writers throughout history.

Role of Insects as Creative Inspiration

Their shapes, colours, and patterns have been used in fabric and clothing designs.

Fireflies in Science

Fireflies glow because of a chemical in their bodies called luciferin.

Luciferin

The chemical that helps fireflies glow is used in lab tests.

How Butterflies impact in Mental Health

Watching butterflies can lower stress and improve mood and reminds people of growth, change, and beauty.

Blowflies

Arrive minutes after death; their eggs and larvae help estimate time since death so it helps to solve crimes.

Role of Beetles in crime Scenes

Bugs Feed on dry tissue and come later in the decay process.

Role of Insect Development in crime Scenes

The size and stage of larvae reveal how long a body has been in one place so it helps to solve crimes.

Insects That Monitor Nature

If certain insects disappear as Mayflies and Dragonflies, it can mean there’s a problem with air, water, or soil.

How Insects influence in Technology and Materials?

Some insects make special substances that scientists study for new materials.

How Bees help in Technology and Materials?

Make wax used in candles, polish, and cosmetics.

How Insects Influence in Film, Games, and Popular Culture?

Insects appear in cartoons, books, and video games as heroes, villains, or helpers. They are often given human traits to make stories fun or meaningful.

What is Insects and Sound?

Insects make sounds by rubbing body parts, flapping wings, or vibrating to help to find mates, scare predators, or warn others.