Many people misuse “bug” when talking about any insect. However, only certain insects are considered true bugs. In this post, you will learn the difference between a bug, and insect, and an arthropod and why they are not quite the same thing. Learn when to say bugs vs insects vs arthropods when talking about creepy crawly little critters!
What are bugs?
Ask an entomologist (insect scientist) what their biggest pet peeve is, and there is a good chance they will tell you it is the misuse of the word “bug”. Many people misuse “bug” when talking about any insect. However, only certain insects are considered true bugs (specifically, the ones in the order Hemiptera). Several aquatic insects are true bugs: water striders, backswimmers, and water scorpions. Also, some terrestrial insects are true bugs including aphids, leafhoppers, stink bugs, and cicadas.
Bugs vs insects
All bugs are insects, but not all insects are bugs. So, what makes bugs different from the rest of the insects? Bugs have specialized, beak-like mouthparts for piercing.
What are insects?
“Insect” is another challenging term for many people. Insects are animals that belong to the class Insecta. They have an exoskeleton, 6 legs, and three main body segments: head, thorax, and abdomen.
Insects vs arthropods
But not all creepy-crawly little critters are insects. For example, people often mistakenly label spiders, scorpions, and centipedes as insects. Clearly, these animals have a lot in common with insects, but they do not have 3 body segments and 6 legs. Instead, you can use the word “arthropod” when talking about this larger group that includes insects and their various cousins that also have exoskeletons.
What are arthropods?
Arthropods are animals in the phylum Arthropoda. This is a very diverse group. Scorpions, spiders, lobsters, millipedes, centipedes, beetles, bugs, and butterflies are just a few examples of arthropods! All arthropods have exoskeletons, segmented bodies, and jointed legs. Different arthropods have different numbers of legs and body segments.
Intro to Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of organizing and classifying living beings into groups, called taxa. This was historically done based on shared traits. Today, genetic tests help scientists determine how organisms are related to one another and evolved from common ancestors. Read more about taxonomy here.
Bug Lesson Plan
If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy my It’s a Bug…. Right? lesson plan for kids! It’s a full set of activities and classroom materials you can use to teach kiddos about arthropods, insects, and bugs and introduce them to taxonomy!
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