The Insect World Trivia Quiz

Answer: up, down

That's a key difference between moths and butterflies.

Answer: phototaxis

The movement of the insect's wings is influenced by the strength of the light it sees. Light from a distant source will reach both of the insect's eyes with equal intensity, allowing the insect to fly in a straight line with both wings moving in the same way.

A closer light source, however, will be perceived by the insect as more intense in one eye than in the other. The wings on the side of the insect that sees the light as stronger will move faster, causing the insect to approach the light source in a spiral path, eventually flying right into the light.

Answer: front legs

A cricket has its eardrums on its front legs so that it can hear the sounds other members of its species are making.

Answer: they can fly long distances

Most species can't fly at all and those that do can cover only a short distance. Cockroaches also give off an oil that has a terrible odor and carry lots of germs and bacteria on their bodies. They're most active after the sun goes down and can squeeze into very narrow cracks.

Answer: suckers on legs

A fly's feelers act like a nose, allowing it to pick up smells. At the end of its mouth it has lips that act like sponges, sucking up {liquids;} it uses the hairs on its feet to discover how something tastes.

Answer: two

Females are the only mosquitoes that drink {blood;} males drink water and the juices of plants and fruits. After drinking the blood, a female mosquito rests for a while but is then ready to start laying eggs. The eggs are laid in the water, floating on the surface.

Answer: for digging

A mole cricket's front legs are shovel-like--well-adpated for its underground life style. Their front legs push soil aside, building tunnels underground. After a mole cricket lays eggs it will guard them 'round the clock, not stopping to eat until they hatch.

Answer: its saliva

When a mosquito bites you, it mixes in some of its saliva to help them drink your blood easier. This saliva is what makes you itch.

Answer: No

Praying mantises will never eat a dead insect. A mantis will hide until prey comes along. Then it will draw in its front legs, suddenly extend them, and push its victim down between the spines of its front legs.

Answer: both

When attacked, a ladybug may flip over on its back and play dead. It will stay that way until the surprised predator gives up and leaves. Ladybugs also spit a horrible smelling and horrible tasting liquid when confronted by an enemy. It tastes so terrible that the predator will try to avoid ladybugs for the rest of its life.

Answer: males

Locusts make sounds by rubbing their back legs and their wings together. Crickets make sounds by holding up their wings and rubbing them together. Grasshoppers make sounds by spreading their wings sideways and rubbing them together. Crickets and (some) grasshoppers have left wings that are similar to files and right wings that are notched.

The sound is produced by rubbing the files along the notches.

Answer: to scare you away

I'm sure beetles are terrified when caught, but their cries have more of a purpose than expressing terror. Long-horned beetles have sound plates between their front and back skins, which they rub together to produce sound.

Answer: compound eyes

Compound eyes are far better at detecting movement than at making out shapes. A dragonfly's large eyes are used to find food during the day time and to watch for enemies.

Answer: abdomen

Any insect or animal that threatens the bee's nest will be attacked by the worker bees, who have poisonous stingers inside their abdomens. When a honeybee stings something, part of its insides are torn out with the stinger and it soon dies.

Answer: termite

Termites chew through damp wood, making it crumble. The wooden support beams under a house must be kept dry and well ventilated to keep termites from damaging them.