In this post, we’ll discuss the parts of an insect and an insect’s three main body segments. At the end, download my free insect anatomy coloring worksheet and find links to more insect anatomy activities and materials – perfect for reviewing the parts of an insect in your classroom.
A note for educators: If you’re an educator planning to teach insects, great learning resources are key to deepening understanding! I think you and your students will love my complete Insects Unit. It includes tons of insect anatomy activities and much, much more (plus you’ll support my blog with your purchase! ❤️)
Head
1.The head is the front insect body segment. The head holds the eyes and antennae, which help the insect see, touch, and smell. Insects’ mouthparts are also on the head. Different insects have different-shaped mouthparts depending on what foods they eat.
Thorax
1.The thorax is the middle body segment. The legs are attached to the thorax. If the insect has wings, the wings are also attached to the thorax.
Abdomen
1.The abdomen is the rear insect body segment. Many of an insect’s organs are inside the abdomen.
Legs
The legs are attached to the insect’s thorax. Insects always have 6 legs. Animals with a different number of legs are not insects, like spiders with 8 legs.
Wings (sometimes)
The wings allow some insects to fly. Not all insects have wings. If an insect has wings, they are attached to the thorax. Insects may have two or four wings.
Antennae
Insects have two antennae attached to their heads. The antennae help the insect sense the world around it. They are used for touching, smelling, and sometimes even tasting.
Specialized Mouthpart
Insects do not have teeth like you or me. Instead, they have a specialized mouthpart. This mouthpart is designed for the type of food each insect eats. It might be used for chewing, scraping, or even sipping. A great example is a proboscis, which is a long tube-like mouthpart of butterflies and moths. It lets butterflies and moths sip nectar from flowers the way you drink a milkshake through a straw.
I’ve Created this Insect Anatomy Worksheet (FREE)
You can find the insect anatomy coloring worksheet on my free resources page. You can access this free resource and all the other free resources when you join my email newsletter.
For more insect anatomy and insect lessons, try one of these…
You can find lots more insect teaching materials in the Wild Earth Lab shop. For the most complete and in-depth set of materials, I recommend my Insects Unit. Otherwise, find a la carte insect lessons below…
Explore more lessons from Wild Earth Lab:
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