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Directions: Choose a word for each
category, and then fill the blanks in the story
with the word you chose to create your own
unique story! HINT: Use the INSECT WORD
BOX on the back of the page to help with
wing, leg, and mouthpart types.
Build-A-Bug
There once was an Entomologist named ________________. One day while
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_____________ through the ___________, an insect was found that she / he had never
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A PLACE
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seen before. Dr. ____________ quickly hurried back to the ____________, where the
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insect could be properly _____________. Upon further inspection, it was discovered
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that the insect had not yet been named. Dr. _____________ decided to name the insect
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YOUR LAST NAME____________________
NAME YOUR INSECT__________________
________________. This was due to the fact that the insect had _____________
NAME YOUR INSECT
WING TYPE
wings, used for ______________ and ______________ legs, used for _____________.
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LEG TYPE
WING TYPE___________________________
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LEG TYPE____________________________
The next day Dr. ____________ went out to find the insect again. She / He was so
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____________ because he found the insect eating. The insect had _____________
ADJECTIVE
MOUTHPART TYPE
mouthparts, which it used to ___________ its food. The type of food the insect liked
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ADJECTIVE___________________________
MOUTHPART TYPE____________________
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was ___________. Dr. ____________ had really discovered a(n) ___________ insect!
TYPE OF INSECT FOOD
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ADJECTIVE
TYPE OF INSECT FOOD________________
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ADJECTIVE___________________________
INSECT WORD BOX
Insect WING types:
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Tegmina: Wings are leathery or parchment-like. They are protective in function. They are not useful for flight.
Membranous: Wings are thin and transparent. They are supported by a system of tubular veins. They are useful in flight.
Haltere: Wings are modified into small knobbed vibrating organ called halters, which act as balancing organs and provided the needed stability during flight.
Scaley: Wings are covered with scales which are unicellular, flattened outgrowths of the body wall. Scales are responsible for color. They are important in
smoothing out the airflow over wings and body. They also insulate the insect against cold.
Fringed: Wing lamina is usually reduced in size. Wing margins fringed with long setae. These insects literally swim through the air.
Elytra: Wing is heavily sclerotized and thick. Wing venation is lost. Wing is tough and protective in function. It protects the hindwings and the abdomen. It is
not used for flight. In flight they are kept at an angle to allow free movement of the hindwings.
Insect LEG types:
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Saltatorial: Work well for jumping because they are enlarged legs filled with bulky, strong muscles. All those muscles allow insects with this type of leg to
jump, propelling themselves forward very long distances very quickly. Saltatorial legs are usually hind legs.
Cursorial: Work well for running. Legs tend to be long and narrow and are designed so that the insect can move very quickly. Things with this type of leg are
often hard to catch – or hard to step on if you’re dealing with roaches.
Raptorial: Work well for hunting, the kinds of legs you see on predatory insects. Legs are enlarged and full of strong, powerful muscles. However, these legs
are usually at the front of the insect and are used to grab and hold prey while they eat. Many insects with raptorial legs hold them out in front of their bodies,
positioned so that they can strike at prey at any time.
Fossorial: Highly modified legs, usually the forelegs, to dig burrows for insects that live underground. Legs tend to be very broad, very flat, and very
dense. They often have big, strong claws. Legs work somewhat like shovels to rip soils apart quickly and easily and allow the insect to bury itself in the ground
surprisingly quickly.
Natorial: Work well for swimming and for insects that live in the water that require modified legs to move easily through water. Legs are often flattened, broad,
and fringed with dense hairs. These adaptations have the same sort of effect as a human wearing flippers as they swim – they increase the surface area of the legs
as they kick, allowing the insect to move more easily through water.
Insect MOUTHPART types:
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Siphoning or sucking: The siphoning mouthpart on an insect is called the proboscis and is used by the bug to drink things like nectar and water. The proboscis is
long, so when the insect is not using it to drink, it curls up underneath its head and then extends when ready to drink again.
Piercing and sucking: Used to pierce the stem of plants and drink the sap in the stem, and also the flesh of animals. The piercing part is called a stylet. When
used to drink blood, saliva containing anticoagulants is injected into the animal and blood is sucked out, each through different tubes.
Sponging: Used to break down hard food for insect. Insect dabbles saliva over the solid food they want to eat and the saliva breaks up the food into smaller
pieces so that the insect can suck it up.
Chewing: Insects with chewing mouthparts have two mandibles, one on each side of their face. The mandibles are kind of like human a jaw, which helps chew
the insect bite off food. The mandibles can also be used to cut, tear, chew, or crush food items.