LADYBUGS
This insect is usually less than half an inch long and has dark spots.
What is a ladybug?
This insect gets its name because its front legs look as if they are praying.
What is a praying mantis?
A large society where ants live and work together is called this.
What is a colony?
Insects are the largest group of these on Earth.
What are animals?
Why would a gardener want ladybugs in a garden?
Because ladybugs eat aphids that can harm plants and crops.
These tiny insects do not help plants. They suck juice from plants and can destroy crops.
What are aphids?
A praying mantis is actually this type of animal because it hunts other insects.
What is a predator?
This ant lays eggs in the colony.
Who is the queen?
Scientists have already identified about this many insect species.
What is 900,000?
Why might camouflage help a praying mantis catch its food?
It helps the mantis blend into its surroundings and stay hidden from prey.
Ladybugs are called natural pest controllers because they eat these insects
What are aphids?
A praying mantis may look like a green leaf or a flower blossom. This ability is called _____.
What is camouflage?
These ants make up the vast majority of ants in a colony.
What are worker ants?
Scientists believe millions more insect species are waiting to be _____.
What is discovered?
Why is hearing important to a praying mantis?
It can help the mantis detect a bat's sonar and escape.
The hard, colorful parts of a ladybug protect these delicate body parts when the ladybug is resting.
What are its flying wings?
A praying mantis uses these body parts to grab its prey.
What are its spiny front legs?
Name TWO jobs that worker ants do.
Forage for food, tidy the nest, take care of eggs, or guard the entrance.
The passage says insects come in all of these.
What are shapes and sizes?
What can we infer about ants from the way they rebuild their damaged home?
Ants are cooperative/team-oriented and work together to solve problems.
Why do gardeners consider ladybugs true helpers?
Because they eat aphids that can damage plants and crops.
This animal hunts praying mantises at night using sonar sound waves.
What are bats?
What do ants do when their colony's home is damaged?
They work together to rebuild it.
Each insect species has special _____ that help it survive.
What are traits?
What is one BIG idea the entire passage teaches us about insects?
Insects have different traits and behaviors that help them survive.