Adaptations of

Insects
Teacher’s Booklet

Texas Cooperative Extension

Part of the Texas A&M University System

Molly Keck
Extension Program Specialist
3355 Cherry Ridge, Suite 212
San Antonio, TX 78230
Email: [email protected]
 Preface

Insects have amazing adaptations that make each type unique and diverse.
Insects are adapted for life in every environment imaginable. With the
exception of deep in volcanoes, insects can be found everywhere. Insect
adaptations include mouthparts, the ability to fly, leg types, and body
shapes. Imagine if all insects looked exactly the same, ate exactly the
same food, and lived in exactly the same habitats. It would be impossible
because insects would compete too much and would not be able to
survive.

In this booklet are a variety of exercises designed to help educate your

students about adaptations by using insects as examples.

1
 Table of Contents

Preface 1

Lesson 1 – Insect Adaptations 3

Activity 1 – Maze 7

Lesson 2 – Insect Mouthpart Adaptations 8

Activity 2 – Insect Masks 11

Lesson 3 – Insect Adaptations to Habitats 18

Activity 3-1 – Matching Legs to Habitats 22
Activity 3-2 – Build an Insect 24

Lesson 4 – Who is Adapted to Their Environment 29

Activity 4-1 – Adaptation Matching Game 33
Activity 4-2 – Adaptation Word Search 35

Wrap Up Group Activity 36

Wrap Up Crossword Activity 37

Glossary 39
 Lesson 1 - Insect Adaptations

Overview:
Students will read the following passage in the classroom and then answer
relevant questions pertaining to the passage. The students will get an overview
about of the term adaptation, and how insects may be adapted to their
environment.

Instructions:
Read the passage either in groups or as a class.

Objectives:
Students will know the term adaptation and will be able to recognize
adaptations that insects have developed to help them survive in the
environment.

TEKS:
Science:
2.2a, 2.2b, 2.5a, 2.6d, 2.8a
3.2a, 3.2c, 3.2d, 3.8a, 3.8d, 3.9a, 3.9b,
4.3a, 4.5a, 4.8a, 4.8b,
5.3a, 5.5a, 5.9a, 5.9b, 5.9c

Materials:
Handouts of reading exercise for Lesson 1
Overhead copy of reading exercise for Lesson 1
Wrap up questions for Lesson 1
Activity 1

3
 Lesson 1: Insect Adaptations

Questions to Ask Before Reading the Passage:

What is an adaptation?
Can you think of some animals that are adapted to their environment?
How are we adapted to our environment?

Reading Exercise

Insects are adapted their environment in many ways. An adaptation is an

adjustment to the environment so that an animal can fit in better and have a
better chance of living. Animals with heavy fur coats are adapted for cold
environments. Animals that have webbed feet are adapted for living in the
water. Insects can also be adapted to their environment.

Here are some adaptations insects can have:

Insects can be camouflaged. Insects that look like their environment won’t be
seen by predators such as birds and lizards. Some insects look like sticks, leaves,
and thorns. This type of adaptation helps insect survive by blending in with
their surroundings so they aren’t eaten or so that prey doesn’t see them hiding.

Stink Bugs are the same color green Walking sticks look just like
as the leaves they like to eat. sticks or leaves.

4
 Insect antennae can be adapted to their environment.
Insects with large eyes do not need extra help seeing and
have short antennae. Insects with long antennae probably
have very little eyes. Think about an insect that lives in
dark places, what will their eyes and antennae look like?
They will probably have small eyes because their world is
dark, and eyes aren’t helpful. They will also probably have
long antennae to help them get around in the dark.
Dragonflies have very large
eyes and very small
antennae.

Insects can have adapted feet and legs. There are many
different types of insect legs such as jumping, digging,
running, and swimming. These adaptations help them
survive in the environment that they live in.

Grasshoppers have long, strong hind legs that help

them jump. This adaptation helps them get away
from predators, and jump over tall grasses.

Insects can also have adapted mouthparts. This helps

them eat their favorite foods better. There are
chewing, sucking, lapping, and sponging mouthparts.

House flies have sponging

mouthparts to slurp up food.

5
Wrap Up Questions:
What is an adaptation? How an animal looks to help it fit into its environment.
What are some ways insects can be adapted to their environment? Antennae
and eyes, legs, mouthparts, camouflaged.
What would an insect’s antennae and eyes look like if it only lived in dark caves?
Long antennae and small eyes
What type of adaptation would an insect that lived in trees have? Camouflaged
to look like leaves or sticks.

6
 Activity 1: Maze

Wendel the Whirligig Beetle is adapted for living in the water. He has long hind
legs for swimming and short front legs for grabbing food. Help Wendel find his
way back to his pond.

Start

End

7
 Lesson 2 - Insect Mouthpart Adaptations

Overview:
Students will read the following passage in the classroom and then answer
relevant questions pertaining to the passage. The students will learn about the
various insect mouthparts and how they are adapted for their environment.

Instructions:
Read the passage either in groups or as a class

Objectives:
Students will know the types of insect mouthparts. Students will be able to
recognize what insects eat based on what type of mouthparts they have.

TEKS:
Science:
2.2a, 2.2b, 2.5a, 2.6a, 2.6b, 2.6d
3.2a, 3.2c, 3.2d, 3.5a, 3.5b, 3.8a, 3.8d, 3.9a, 3.9b
4.2a, 4.8a, 4.8b
5.2a, 5.9a, 5.9b, 5.9c

Materials:
Handouts of reading exercise for Lesson 2
Overhead copy of reading exercise for Lesson 2
Wrap up questions for Lesson 2
Activity 2

8
 Lesson 2: Insect Mouthpart Adaptations

Questions to Ask Before Reading the Passage:

Do insects have more that one type of mouth?
What types of mouthparts do insects have?
How do their mouthparts help them eat and survive?

Reading Exercise:
Insects have many different types of mouthparts. Their mouthparts are adapted to
help them eat their favorite foods. If all insects had the same mouthparts they would
all eat the same things. Different mouthparts make insects unique and diverse. Each
type of mouthpart has the same parts; they are just adapted to do different things!

The most basic type of mouthpart an insect can have are called chewing mouthparts.
Chewing mouthparts are found on insects that eat plants and sometimes other
animals. Insects chew their food opposite of us. We chew up and down, and insects
chew side to side! Cockroaches, grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, and caterpillars all have
chewing mouthparts. You can tell if you have a chewing insect on your plants
because you will have little holes eaten in the leaves!

Some insects have sponging mouthparts. Their mouthparts are

adapted to sponge up food. Houseflies have sponging
mouthparts. They have nothing to chew, so they have to spit up
on their food to dissolve it before they can sponge it up. So when
a fly lands on your sandwich, don’t eat that piece – it has fly
throw up!

9
Insects that like to drink nectar from plants have lapping mouthparts. These
mouthparts help them drink the sweet nectar from flowers. Lapping mouthparts have
the same pieces that chewing mouthparts have, they are just put together differently.
Lapping mouthparts are long, like a flexible straw, and can be stuck deep into flowers.
Butterflies have lapping mouthparts. Butterfly mouthparts are so long that they keep
them rolled up under their head until they are ready to eat.

Butterfly with mouthparts rolled Butterfly with mouthparts extended,

up under its head. feeding on flower nectar.

Other insects have sucking mouthparts. Sucking mouthparts have the same parts as
chewing mouthparts, they are just adapted for sucking the juices of plants or blood.
Sucking mouthparts are made like a sword or straw. Insects stick their mouth into a
plant and suck all the juices. Other insects stick their mouthparts into animals or
other insects and suck blood. Mosquitoes have sucking mouthparts. Stink bugs also
have sucking mouthparts. Mosquitoes suck blood, and stink bugs suck plant juice.

Wrap up Questions:
What are the different types of insect mouthparts? Chewing, sucking, lapping, and
sponging.
Do the different type of insect mouthparts all have the same parts? Yes, they are just
adapted for different things.
Name some insects with chewing mouthparts, lapping, sponging and sucking.

10
 Activity 2: Insect Masks

Choose the insect mouthparts you would like to have: butterfly lapping
mouthparts, or the chewing mouthparts of a cricket or grasshopper. Cut out
the pieces of the mouth and paste them to complete your mask. Color the
mask in whatever color you like.

Masks available online at:

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/alienempire/index.html
PBS Alien Empire Educational Website

11
12
13
14
15
16
17
 Lesson 3 – Insect Adaptations to Habitats

Overview:
Students will read the following passage in the classroom and then answer
relevant questions pertaining to the passage. The students will learn about the
various adaptations of insect legs and how they are adapted to their habitats.

Instructions:
Read the passage either in groups or as a class.

Objectives:
Students will know the types of insect legs. Students will be able to recognize
where insects live based on what type of legs they have.

TEKS:
Science
2.2a, 2.2b, 2.2e, 2.2f, 2.5a, 2.5b, 2.2.6a, 2.6b, 2.6d, 2.9a
3.1a, 3.2c, 3.3c, 3.5a, 3.5b, 3.8a, 3.9a, 3.9b
4.2a, 4.2c, 4.2e, 4.8a, 4.8b
5.2a, 5.2c, 5.2e, 5.9a, 5.9b, 5.9c

Materials:
Handouts of reading exercise for Lesson 3
Overhead copy of reading exercise for Lesson 3
Wrap up questions for Lesson 3
Activity 3-1
Activity 3-2

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 Lesson 3: Insect Adaptations to Habitats

Questions to Ask Before Reading the Passage:

Do all insects have legs that look the same?
What are some differences you have noticed in insect legs?
Do you think you can tell where an insect lives based on the type of legs it has?
Name some places insects live and what type of legs they have to help them in their
environment.

Reading Exercise:
Insects live in many different habitats and environments. You can find insects living
in nearly everywhere on Earth. Insects have six legs and they are adapted to help them
move around their environment. There are many different types of legs that insects
may have: running, walking, jumping, swimming, and digging.

Insects that live in the water are called aquatic. Aquatic insects have legs adapted for
swimming. Some aquatic insects have long legs that are used like oars to help the
insect swim. Other insects have very short, fat legs that beat quickly for fast
swimming. Some insects don’t swim they walk on top of the water. These insects are
very skinny and small and have long, thin legs that keep them on top of the water
instead of falling through the water.

Whirligigs have long

Giant Water Bugs have
Water Striders walk on front legs that help
grasping front legs to catch
water. Their legs are long them catch food. Their
prey. Their hind legs are long
and skinny. Their legs middle and hind legs
and strong for swimming.
help balance out their are very short and fat,
Their middle legs are small and
weight so that they don’t and beat very fast to
help in swimming, but are not
break through the water help them swim quickly
really needed because the hind
and drown
legs do such a good job

19
Insects that need to run very fast usually have long, thin
legs. Cockroaches have adapted long and thin legs to
help them run away from predators quickly. If a
cockroach is born with short legs, it will not be able to
run fast, and you would have an easier time stepping on
him!

Insects that need to jump high have long, strong hind legs. Grasshoppers and crickets
live in fields with high grass. They need jumping legs to help them jump over the grass
to get to food, shelter and water. Fleas also have very strong hind legs. If a flea was as
big as you are, it would be able to jump up as high as one and a half football fields!
Fleas are blood suckers and need a host for blood. Fleas are also very tiny and need
strong hind legs so they can jump high to get on your dog for food!

Flea Field Cricket

Some insects live underground. These insects have adapted legs for digging. Mole
crickets live underground all the time and eat the roots of grasses. Mole crickets have
adapted front legs for digging. Their front legs are shorter and are made like a shovel
to help them make tunnels to travel in the soil.

Pictures from Lesson 3 available on insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide; Bart Drees, Texas A&M University

20
Wrap Up Questions:
What are the different types of legs and insect can have? Running, walking,
swimming, digging, jumping.
What type of legs would an insect have if it was an aquatic insect? Swimming
legs, like oars.
An insect with really strong grasping legs would use them do what? Catching
prey.

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 Activity 3-1: Matching Legs to Habitats

Match the insect on the right to the habitat it would live in on the left.

Strong grasping
Pond forelegs for catching
insects on plants

Garden Short and fat hind legs

plants that beat quickly. Long
forelegs for steering.

Grass All six legs are long and

field thin.

Long strong hind legs.

In Soil

Short fore legs

shaped like
shovels.

Ground

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 Activity 3-1: Matching Legs to Habitats KEY

Match the insect on the right to the habitat it would live in on the left.

Strong grasping
Pond forelegs for catching
insects on plants

Garden Short and fat hind legs

plants that beat quickly. Long
forelegs for steering.

Grass All six legs are long and

field thin.

Long strong hind legs.

In Soil

Short fore legs

shaped like
shovels.

Ground

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 Activity 3-2: Build An Insect

Use the body parts provided to build your own insect. Choose your favorite mouthparts,
legs, eyes, antennae, wings, and body. Cut out the pieces and glue them together to make
your own personal insect. If you don’t like the options, make your own! Write a story,
describing your insect, where it lives, what it eats, and how it moves. Be sure to explain how
the pieces you chose help your insect move, eat and survive.

My insect is ……

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 Insect Eyes
(Do not have to cut out, can just draw onto insect.)

Large Small

Insect Antennae
(Do not have to cut out, can just draw on insect)

Short
Long

Insect Wings
(not all insects have wings)

25
Insect Bodies

26
 Insect Legs
(remember, insects have six legs)

27
 Insect Mouthparts

Chewing

Piercing/Sucking
Lapping

28
 Lesson 4 – Who Is Adapted to Their Environment?

Overview:
Students will read the following passage in the classroom and then answer
relevant questions pertaining to the passage. The students will learn about
various insect adaptations needed for different environments and habitats.

Instructions:
Read the passage either in groups or as a class.

Objectives:
Students will learn about specific insects and how they are adapted to their
environment.

TEKS:
Science
2.2a, 2.2b, 2.2e, 2.3a, 2.5a, 2.6d, 2.8a. 2.9a, 2.8b
3.3c, 2.8a, 3.8b, 3.9c, 3.8d, 3.9a, 3.9b
4.5a, 4.8a, 4.8b, 4.9a, 4.9b
5.9a, 5.9b, 5.9c

Materials:
Handouts of reading exercise for Lesson 4
Overhead copy of reading exercise for Lesson 4
Wrap up questions for Lesson 4
Activity 4-1
Activity4-2

29
 Lesson 4: Who Is Adapted to Their Environment?

Questions to Ask Before Reading the Passage:

Can you think of any insects that are adapted to their environment?
What about them is adapted? What do their legs, body, eyes, and mouthparts look
like?
Where are the only places these insects are able to survive?

Reading Exercise:
We have talked about different ways insects may be adapted, such as having special
legs and mouthparts. Many insects are completely adapted to their environment.
Think of all the different kinds of insects in the world. They are all very different!
They have to be different to survive in their specials worlds.

Fleas are small insects that suck blood for food. Fleas have many adaptations to help
them survive on other animals. An animal’s body is a flea’s habitat. Fleas have to be
able to get onto an animal, so they have adapted long, strong hind legs to help them
jump very high. Fleas also need ways to stay hidden once they are on the animal.
They have adapted a body shape that is small and flattened side to side, just like a
knife. This helps them run in between the hairs without getting caught. Fleas also
have long, thin, front and middle legs for running quickly. To keep from getting
stuck on hairs and fur, fleas do not have any wings and have very short antennae.
They are very streamlined, just like an airplane! Fleas also have short sucking
mouthparts to help drink blood. Your dog usually does not feel a flea biting them,
because the mouthparts are so small.

Adaptations of a Flea

Body flattened side

to side No wings
Very short antennae

Short, sucking mouthparts

Long, strong hind legs

for jumping
Long, thin front and middle legs
for running

30
Dragonflies are insects that always live near water. They are predators and eat other
insects. Dragonflies have adaptations as babies and adults. Dragonflies have to live
near water because they lay their eggs in the water and their babies live in the water
until they are ready to be adults. Dragonfly babies are called naiads (ny-ads). Naiads
have adapted gills to help them live underwater. Dragonfly adults do not have gills
because they do not need them in the air. Dragonfly adults have long, strong wings
that beat fast to help them fly to catch food. They also have specially adapted legs
that can catch food and hold it like a basket. Their legs are not needed for anything
other than catching food because they use their wings to get around. Dragonflies
have very large eyes and very small antennae. They need large eyes find their food!

Adaptations of a Dragonfly

Large eyes and short antennae

Grasping legs the make a

basket for scooping prey

Strong, long wings

Dragonfly Naiad

Gills for breathing underwater

Dr. Bart Drees, Texas A&M

University

31
Butterflies are adapted for a life in the air and drinking nectar. Many butterflies are
brightly colored to warn predators that they taste bad. Some butterflies mimic the
colors of the bad tasting butterflies to trick predators. The Texas State Butterfly, the
Monarch tastes bad to birds and lizards. Another butterfly called the Viceroy is
adapted to mimic the Monarch so predators won’t eat it!

Monarch Butterfly Viceroy Butterfly

Butterfly wings are adapted for flying long distances. Their wings are very large, but
they are not meant for flying very fast. Some butterflies have adapted spots on their
wings to scare predators. When a predator sees the spots, they look like large eyes and
make the predator think the butterfly is actually larger than it is!

Butterflies eat nectar from plants. They have adapted long mouthparts that can reach
deep into flowers to drink nectar. Their mouthparts act like straws. Butterflies do not
need large eyes to look for moving food, but they do need help to see predators.
Instead of big eyes, butterflies have adapted long antennae and hairs on their body to
feel for predators.

Butterfly adults and larvae eat different types of foods. This adaptation helps parents
and children from fighting with each other for the same food! Butterfly adults eat
nectar, and butterfly larvae chew on plants. They both have different mouthparts.

Adaptations of Butterflies
Four long wings
for long flights Bright colors to warn
predators
Long antennae and
small eyes

Eye spots to scare

predators Different mouthparts in adults and larvae

32
 Activity 4-1: Adaptation Matching Game

Match the following insects (A,B,C) to the adaptations they have that make them unique in
the box on the left. Next, match the reason for the adaptation to the adaptation.

A B C

Insect A, B, or C Reason (#)

Reason For Adaptations
____ & ____ Very short antennae ____ & ____
1- Don’t need long antennae because have
____ Very long antennae _____
large eyes
____ Body flattened side to side _____ 2- So that adults and larvae don’t fight for
food
____ Grasping legs like a basket _____
3- To help feel for predators
____ No wings _____ 4- To breathe underwater
5- To help get deep into flowers for nectar
____ Long, strong wings _____
6- To jump high to get on food
____ Naiads have gills _____ 7- Don’t need large eyes because have long
antennae
____ Very large eyes _____
8- To help fit between hairs
____ Four large wings _____ 9- To grab and scoop food during flight
10- Would get in the way when running
____ Long, strong hind legs _____
between hairs
____ Small eyes _____ 11- To fly quickly to grab food
12- To see well to spot food
____ Different mouthparts as adults and larvae _____
13- To scare predators
____ Short sucking mouthparts _____ 14- To warn predators that they taste bad
15- For fast running
____ Eye spots on wings _____
16- To help drink blood without being felt
____ Long, thin front and middle legs _____ 17- Antennae would get in the way when
running through fur
____ Bright colors _____
18- To fly long distances
____ Very long, straw-like mouthparts _____

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 Activity 4-1: Adaptation Matching Game KEY

Insect A, B, or C Reason (#)

_A_ & _B__ Very short antennae __1_ & _17_
_C__ Very long antennae ___3_
_B__ Body flattened side to side ___8_
_A__ Grasping legs like a basket ___9_
_B__ No wings __10_
_A__ Long, strong wings __11_
_A__ Naiads have gills ___4_
_A__ Very large eyes __12_
_C__ Four large wings __18_
_B__ Long, strong hind legs __6_
_C__ Small eyes __7_
_C__ Different mouthparts as adults and larvae __2_
_B__ Short sucking mouthparts __16_
_C__ Eye spots on wings __13_
_B__ Long, thin front and middle legs __15_
_C__ Bright colors __14_
_C__ Very long, straw-like mouthparts ___5_

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 Activity 4-2: Adaptation Word Search

N S E L J X L R Y W U C Q C H D I I I C N G I G E
C O T G N I P P A L Y Q Z I A A C Y V F K M D N N
U I I R L N Z O I B S O D M E I U O C M B U M I V
G D T T A A Y S M X M O T I L A C K Y T L F T W I
Z H J A A P G G N I Y L F M F N Y L A S X S V E R
F E I T U T H E I E N C B T Z L F N E N S L E H O
J D J D O Q P T P E H E K C F N T Y C C S W R C N
X C A E N U A A U I H K E R O E E I T Q U J F S M
G Z Q H N O E Y D O V Y E G N A P O B X J G B A E
W I L L K X Q H Q A M T A N W V S R F W Q X O Q N
C S C L N V O Y T K T R A A O A O C G C H K B Q T
Z L U A G S A J E U D E H Q D Z N E O S D A Y V V
W I N G S Y P B B B R G T J A U R J T I S M G R K
M C R W C W C V R T L Y G O U Z L G K Y M Y C Z N
W L P U T C I Z G J K K M N H P L T H J Q T J R K
P N E C F V B D E A N D I E L L R V R K T Y N M A
Q B F V Q L N D I Q H B A C G H J I Z U Y U J V K
W A S J N O T F L S W W W A T V Z X R P E B B V M
K K G L P A U D N S A E A L X Q E J T K Z R J W E
Q L E X T O J X T J B M D R A Y R J D I L U J P Y
V V L I S E R Y R T W X G Q T N F U E R M P I O Z
X D B G P I C W V Z L G T D J S S B J P L O R L Q
Y A V I K P F I C N Q Q P C U W G L I C D Y Z D J
H L F E K H X S D J I U B F W B V N L W J L H P N
B O V G Y R C P G R A S P I N G G T H U G S Q C N

Word Search

ADAPTATION ENVIRONMENT LAPPING

ADULT EYES LEGS
ANTENNAE FLEA MIMIC
AQUATIC FLYING MOUTHPARTS
BUTTERFLY GRASPING NAIAD
CHEWING HABITAT STRAW
DRAGONFLY JUMPING WINGS

35
 Wrap Up Group Activity – Insect Adaptations

Directions:
Allow students to collect insects and bring them to class. Examine the collected insects to
determine how they are adapted to their environment. After collecting insects, have students
arrange them by the environment or habitat in which they found them. Have students
record what adaptations each collected insect may have to help it survive in its environment.

Places to search for insects:

Gardens Underside of leaves Under rocks
Flowers Grass In rotten logs
Trees Dirt In open fields

Tools for collections:

• Nets
• Empty jars, baggies or other containers
• Cotton balls and nail polish remover (to kill insects, if desired)
• Hand lens for small insects
• Insect pins or sewing pins
• Shoe boxes or small boxes to place insects
• Styrofoam to pin insects inside boxes

Questions to ask when insects are collected:

Where did you go to look for insects?
What made you know insects would be found there?
Do the insects found in certain environments or habitats have similar characteristics?
What are those characteristics?
Can you tell by the way some insects look what they might eat?
Can you tell by the way some insects look where they might live?
What adaptations do the insects that you collected have?

TEKS:
Science:
2.1a, 2.1b, 2.2a, 2.2b, 2.2c, 2.2d, 2.2e, 2.2f, 2.3a, 2.3b, 2.3c, 2.4a, 2.5a, 2.5b, 2.6d, 2.8a
3.1a, 3.1b, 3.2a, 3.2b, 3.2c, 3.2d, 3.3a, 3.3b, 3.4a, 3.8a, 3.8b, 3.8d, 3.9a, 3.9b, 3.10b
4.1a, 4.1b, 4.2a, 4.2b, 4.2c, 4.2d, 4.3a, 4.3c, 4.4a, 4.5a, 4.8a, 4.8b,
5.1a, 5.1b, 5.2a, 5.2b, 5.2c, 5.2d, 5.3a, 5.4a, 5.5a, 5.5b, 5.9a, 5.9b, 5.9c

36
Wrap Up Activity:
Crossword Puzzle

Word Bank

Adaptation
Aquatic
Big
Chewing
Digging
Jumping
Legs
Long
Mimic
Mouthparts
Across Naiads
2. Insects have different _____ to help them eat their favorite foods Short
4. Insects that are ____ live in water and have swimming legs Small
5. Insects with _____ mouthparts can make holes in your plants when they eat Swimming
8. Aquatic insects have ____ legs Sucking
9. Look like something else
10. Insects with ___ eyes usually have short antennae
11. Insects have different types of ____ to help them move around in their environment
13. Insects with long strong back legs use them for _____.

Down
1. Insects with ____ antennae usually have big eyes
3. To change your body or behavior to fit into your environment
6. Immatures that live in water
7. _____Across
legs are used by mole crickets to move around underground
8. _____ mouthparts are used to drink blood or juice from plants
11. Insects with _____ antennae usually have small eyes
12. Insects with _____ eyes usually have long antennae
37
 Wrap Up Activity: Crossword Puzzle KEY

Across –
2 - mouthparts
4 - aquatic
5 - chewing
8 – swimming
9 – mimic
10 – big
11 – legs
13 - jumping

Down
1 – short
3 – adaptation
6 – naiads
7 – digging
8 – sucking
11 – long
12 - small

38
 Glossary

Adaptation/Adapted (Lesson 1, 2, 3, 4) – adjustments an insect makes in its

behavior or body to help it survive in its environment

Aquatic (Lesson 3) – living in water

Camouflage (Lesson 1) – disguises to help blend into the environment

Diverse (Lesson 2) – varieties or differences

Environment (Lesson 1) – surroundings or habitat

Host (Lesson 3) – a living animal where a parasite can live or get food from.

Mimic (Lesson 4) – to copy or look like something else

Naiad (Lesson 4) – the immature form of an aquatic insect

Predator (Lesson 3, 4) – An animal that eats other animals. A carnivore.

Unique (Lesson 2) – different, not like anything else

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Other Texas AgriLife Extension Educators Involved in Elementary Insects:

Kimberly Schofield Dr. Jeffery Tomberlin

Program Specialist Associate Professor
Texas AgriLife Extension Texas A&M University
Dallas, TX College Station, TX
972-952-9221 979-845-9718
[email protected] [email protected]

Molly Keck Dr. Robert Porter

Program Specialist Associate Professor and Extension
Texas AgriLife Extension Entomologist
San Antonio, TX Texas AgriLife Extension
210-467-6575 Lubbock, TX
[email protected] 806-746-6101
[email protected]

Educational programs of Texas AgriLife Extension are open to all people without
regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age or national origin.