Insect

Description

In general, any small, invertebrate, air-breathing animal with legs and a segmented body, including spiders. More specifically, the class Insecta has adult members whose bodies are segmented into a head, thorax, and abdomen. These species also have 1 pair antennae, 3 pairs of legs (one on each thoracic segment), and often have 1-2 two pairs of wings. Examples of insects include ants, bees, flies, crickets, mosquitoes, beetles, cockroaches, silverfish, termites, moths, and wasps. Insects can detroy artifacts and structures by eating proteinaceous (wool, animal glue, leather, parchment) and cellulosic (paper, starch, and wood) materials. The adult insects typically range in size from 1.0 to 50 mm. Their lifespan can be from two weeks to two years. The adult females usually deposit eggs in several locations. After hatching, the larvae eat and destroy nearby food sources. Many insects avoid brightly lit spaces, but may be detected by observation of material destruction, frass, or by being lured into traps. They are killed with insecticides and fumigants, many of which are toxic to mammals. Anoxia treatments are also used to kill insects.

Synonyms and Related Terms

insects (pl.)

Other Properties

Growth stages for insects with complete metamorphisis includes: egg, larvae, pupae, and adult.

Additional Information

º Eric H. Smith, Richard C. Whitman, NPMA Field Guide to Sturctural Pests, National Pest Management Association, Fairfax VA, 2005.

Authority

• The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998

• Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997