A question people often ask throughout their lives is, are insects animals? Insects are part of the animal kingdom, and you might be surprised by the other types of creatures that are also considered to be animals. Even animals that don’t have obvious organs or limbs still often fall under this category. Today we’re going to explore more about this topic and discover what makes an animal an insect.
What percentage of animals are insects | Why are insects important | Why insects are so successful
What Percentage Of Animals Are Insects
The way in which living things are classified is described as taxonomy. This starts with a larger group, such as animals, and then you progress down to more specific classifications. As we’ve already mentioned when answering the question of are insects animals, they are most certainly part of the animal kingdom. They are classified as arthropods, which means jointed legs, and then hexapods, which means that they have six legs. Insects have the key trait of six legs while also having an exoskeleton that covers their body. Their body is broken up into three segments, including the head, thorax, and abdomen. Most of the insects on the planet also have wings, but not all of them do.
There are 91,000 described species of insects
Insects are cold-blooded arthropods, and this group makes up a whopping 90% of all life forms on our planet. They are also the most diverse group of animals in the world, and there are over one million species. It’s also believed that 9 million more species have yet to be discovered, and research into the insects around the world is constantly being undertaken. Even in a single country, such as the United States, there are 91,000 described species. These usually fall into categories, which include beetles, flies, moths and butterflies, and ants, bees, and wasps. Scientists also break these statistics down further and look at how many insects are found in one state or city. The more research that can be undertaken about insects, the more likely we are to know how many species really do co-exist with us on the planet.
Why Are Insects Important
You’ve no doubt been bitten or stung by an insect at some point in your life, so you are probably wondering why are insects important. Insects serve many purposes on our planet, and they support both animals and humans in our everyday lives. Although they are often very tiny, our world simply wouldn’t be the same without insects in it. As we know from answering the question of what percentage of animals are insects, insects make up a huge percentage of the life forms on this planet. They act as the biological foundation for all of the terrestrial ecosystems. Insects help to cycle nutrients, disperse seeds, and pollinate plants. On top of that, they maintain soil fertility and control the populations of other organisms in the world.
Insects are a major food source for other animals on the planet, many of which are an important part of our food chain as humans. When asking are insects considered animals, you’ll find that one of the key areas that is highlighted is the diversity of animals. They have a huge part to play in the ecological world and are very influential on agriculture, natural resources, and human health. Insects are often used in research projects and to help with developments within many industries, and they have been responsible for many of the advances in science in the past century. Most of the major pests are non-native species that were introduced into a new ecosystem. They often become pests as they are living without their natural biological control agents. While there’s no denying that insects can sometimes be an annoyance to humans, their benefits to our world far outweigh this.
Why Insects Are So Successful
As you can probably tell by now, even though insects are small, they still thrive on our planet and far outnumber any other type of animal. To answer the question of why are insects the most successful animals on earth, we need to take a look at their appearance and build. They have a protective shell that helps to keep them out of harm’s way, and their exoskeleton also supports this. While you might think that being small would be a huge disadvantage, in fact, it’s one of the top answers to the question of why insects are so successful. This helps them to hide in places that other animals or humans would never be able to research and keep themselves out of the way of any trouble.
Insects can usually fly, which allows them to escape from enemies and enter a new environment that is free from trouble. Insects are known for quickly reproducing when compared to other species, so they can produce a high number of offspring in a relatively short time. In just one single acre of land, you might find millions of insects, and insect characteristics help them survive even when faced with the challenge of dealing with humans and other animals. They are known for quickly adapting to new plant varieties, which helps them to survive even when they are placed outside of their natural habitat. In comparison to humans and animals who will struggle to adapt to a new way of living, this is one of the key features that sets animals apart and ensures they thrive in our world.
Insects are animals
As you can see, the answer to are insects animals is a resounding yes, and insects are a key part of the animal world. Our planet wouldn’t be able to survive without insects, yet many people still see them as pests. By learning more about the insects that live with us in the world, we can reframe our way of thinking and ensure that we treat insects with more care in the future. They are an important part of our food chain, and while eating them is rarer for humans at the current time, there’s a strong chance this will become a common practice in the future as we continue to look for alternative food sources.
