Body Segment: The Abdomen

Compared to the head and thorax, the external structure of the abdomen is pretty simple. The abdomen is associated with reproduction as it has both internal and external reproductive structures. Internally, the abdomen also houses part of the digestive, circulatory and respiratory systems. The respiratory system of insects is very unique and quite different from […]

Body Segment: The Thorax

The thorax of insects carries the appendages needed for movement—the legs and the wings. The legs are covered by exoskeleton and are subdivided into several sections. The six legs are divided into 3 matching pairs. The legs of each pair are attached on opposite sides of the thorax. The wings are often clear with veins […]

Body Segment: The Head

The head of insects is specialized for food gathering, sensory perception and neural integration. This makes sense because insects are bilateral, just like some other animals like dogs and cows, and the head goes first into the environment. This is in contrast to a creature like a jellyfish, which has radial symmetry! The structure of […]