Arthropod Basics
What does the word "arthropod" mean?
Jointed limbs or jointed legs.
How many legs do insects have?
Six legs.
How many legs do arachnids have?
Eight legs.
Crustaceans live mostly in what type of environment?
Aquatic environments.
What does the word "myriapod" mean?
Many legs.
What is the skeleton of an arthropod called?
Exoskeleton.
What are the two pairs of structures that insects often use for flying?
Wings.
What is the name of the group of arthropods to which spiders belong?
Arachnids.
Name one example of a crustacean that people commonly eat as seafood.
Crab (or lobster, shrimp, etc.).
True or False: Centipedes are herbivores.
False (Centipedes are carnivores.).
Name the three main body parts of most arthropods.
Head, thorax, abdomen.
Name one example of an insect that undergoes complete metamorphosis.
Butterfly (or moth, beetle, etc.)
True or False: All arachnids spin webs to catch their prey.
False (Not all arachnids spin webs; some hunt or ambush prey).
What do crustaceans use to breathe?
Gills.
Name one difference between centipedes and millipedes.
Centipedes have one pair of legs per segment and are carnivores; millipedes have two pairs of legs per segment and are herbivores.
How do arthropods grow if they have a hard exoskeleton?
They molt (shed their old exoskeleton and form a new one).
What sensory organs are found on an insect’s head?
Antennae.
Name one example of an arachnid other than a spider.
Scorpion (or tick, mite, etc.).
True or False: Crustaceans have two pairs of antennae for sensing their surroundings.
True.
What group of arthropods do centipedes and millipedes belong to?
Myriapods.
Approximately how many species of arthropods exist on Earth?
Over one million species.
True or False: All insects have three body parts and two pairs of wings.
False (Some insects, like ants, don’t have wings).
What structure do spiders use to produce silk?
Spinnerets.
Name the hard protective covering found on crustaceans that shields their bodies.
Carapace.
What role do millipedes play in the ecosystem?
They are decomposers.