9 Insects With 4 Legs.

4 Legged Insects: Do Insects With 4 Legs Exist?

Here’s whether insects with 4 legs exist: According to the biological definition, insects have 3 pairs of legs or 6 legs in total. There are, however, insects and other arthropods that have modified their legs for other purposes, such as predation, burrowing, jumping, and sensing. They appear to have 4 legs, but in reality, they have 6. So if you want to know all about insects with 4 legs, then this article is for you. Let’s jump right in! Are There Any Insects With 4 Legs? To be called an “insect,” a living creature, should have five basic characteristics: The body is divided into three regions: head, thorax, and abdomen. 3 pair of legs and therefore 6 legs in total attached to the thoracic region. I repeat, 6 legs.  It has compound eyes. Generally, there is at least one pair of antennae. Optional wings. Some insects have modified their legs for purposes other than those normally associated with a leg. Generally, an insect leg is a jointed appendage that allows it to walk, crawl, or support itself while standing. Yet, as you will see below, some insects have modified their legs to perform other functions, so you may not recognize them as legs at first glance.   For example, the mantis uses 2 legs only for hunting and the grasshopper 2 legs only to jump. They appear to have 4 legs. One has to ask whether the alienated legs are still legs in the sense of a leg. But this is another discussion. How Many Legs Have Insects per Definition? Insects have 3 pairs of legs and therefore 6 legs in total.  But there are insects and other arthropods which have modified their front or hind legs for other purposes and appear to have 4 legs such as: Predation Holding Burrowing Jumping Sensing This is a great demonstration of adaptation and evolution.  A number of insects seem to have eight legs. However, those 8 legged insects are not insects, but appear to be insects to a layman. 9 Insects That Appear to Have 4 Legs Here are some examples of the 4-legged insects:  #1 Mantis  Mantises are an order of insects that have forelegs modified for hunting, also called raptorial legs.  Mantises are ambush predators. They wait for their prey and then catch and hold their prey with the help of these spiked, long, modified legs.  In the condition of a direct predatory threat, the mantises raise their raptorial legs along with wings, which can be perceived as a greater threat by their enemy.  There are over 2400 species in this order, including:  Eight spot mantis  European mantis  Mantid fly  And other members of the family Mantispidae  #2 Four-Legged Bug Stenolemoides arizonensis, a type of assassin bug, is also an insect that has modified forelegs.  Its front legs are adapted to hold the prey to suck out the insides of its prey.  This bug stands and walks on four legs, which qualifies it to be on our list.  #3 Brush-Footed Butterflies  These special butterflies, also known as four-footed butterflies, belong to the largest family of the Nymphalidae family.  They appear with four legs because the front legs are so small that they cannot be detected.  These tiny front structures are used for smelling by a butterfly. Examples include the glass wing butterfly and the Buckeye-butterfly. #4 Grasshoppers and Locusts Locusts, along with other types of grasshoppers, are included in the family Acrididae of insects.  In this case, the hind legs of the grasshoppers are used for jumping only. They stand and walk only on two front pairs of legs.  Moreover, the hind legs differ in anatomy and position as well. That is why the “Holy Bible” claims that the locusts and grasshoppers are four-legged insects.  #5 Water Strider  Aquarius remiges, also called water striders or water skippers can walk on the surface of the water.  Two pairs of hind legs are used to walk and run on the water surface, while the front legs are modified for prey capture.  #6 Giant Water Beetle Giant water bugs belong to the family Belostomatidae of insects. They live in water and use only two pairs of hind legs for swimming.  The front legs are modified again for capturing and holding their prey. They often leave the water and fly about. They are exclusive predators and eat small fishes, crustaceans, and other insects. #7 Cicadas This great group belongs to the genus Magicicada of insects and contains 7 species. Wrongly included in locusts, these insects are actually bugs. They spend about 99% of their life in an immature state called nymphs.  During that nymph stage, they have four functional legs, and the front pair is used for burrowing and piercing into the roots of plants from where they drink the sap.  They emerge as winged adults by digging out using their front legs near the end of their life and die soon after mating.  #8 Octhera This is a member of the genus of flies that have swollen raptorial forelegs.  They use the front pair of the legs to signal, recognize, and express different behavior.  They don’t use them for walking, crawling, or supporting the trunk of the body. So they use only 4 legs as actual legs.  #9 Garlic Four-Legged Mites Mites belong to arachnids which usually have 4 pairs (8 legs). But this group of mites belongs to the superfamily Eriophyoidea which includes 7 species.  The mature instars, or larval stage, of four-legged mites, have two pairs of legs in the front of the body and don’t have any other legs.  They are of tiny size are parasites of garlic plants. 

Why Does Your Cat Stare at Ceilings and Walls?

Why Does Your Cat Stare at Ceilings and Walls?

This is why your cat stares at the ceiling and walls. Your cat can perceive more than humans can. So if you want to know why your cat stares at ceilings and walls, then you’re in the right place. Keep reading! Your Cat and Staring at Ceilings and Walls Imagine yourself coming home, and you see your cat. You just opened the door, stepped in, and suddenly a brief sound strikes your eardrums.  Surely, both of you will forget everything and quickly turn towards the sound to determine where that sound is coming from. This seems to be normal behavior.  What if you are sitting calm and cool while your cat is staring at walls and ceiling and behaving like it focuses on something, but you don’t hear or see anything?  You start wondering if your cat has gone crazy. Or has it just finish watching the James Bond series while you were out and managed to find a job in MI7 of felines? You never know. It’s a cat, after all.  This suspicious cat behavior is observed by a lot of cat owners. Most of us are curious to understand why they do this. The possible causes are as follows: #1 Cats Can Hear What You Can’t I hope you are familiar with the term “audible frequency.” This is the range of sound frequencies that can be heard by an animal.  The cat’s audible frequency is 48Hz-85 kHz, which is one of the broadest frequency ranges in class “Mammalia” and is much greater than 20Hz-20 kHz of humans.  They can hear ultrasounds signals transmitted by mice and other animals, which aid them in hunting. So they can hear the sounds which are inaudible for us and respond to them.  #2 Cats Can See What You Can’t The cats have excellent vision in dim light. This great capability is due to a layer in their eyes called tapetum lucidum. This layer reflects the light passing through the retina, giving the cat the ability to see in light levels 1/6th of the amount required by us.  So, cats can see tiny spots of light on the walls and ceiling, such as sunlight reflection, street lights coming in the house, a reflection of the mobile screen, blinking LED of the TV screen or phone.  Some of the light stimuli are so small that we are unable to detect them, but cats can see them clearly. They respond, and we stand around wondering what’s going on.  Moreover, they can see ultraviolet wavelengths, too. We cannot.  #3 Cats Can Smell What You Can’t Dogs and cats are famous for their olfactory sense. They have double olfactory mucosa as compared to humans.  The olfactory mucosa is the layer responsible for the absorption of chemicals which are to be sensed.  So cats can smell things that we cannot.  Moreover, an additional smell sensor called the vomeronasal organ is located on the floor of the nasal cavity in cats and some other animals. Humans have this structure too, but it is non-functional.  So, as the sense of smell in cats is far better than ours, they can sometimes respond to very light odor that we cannot sense.  #4 Their “Moustache” (Whiskers) Has a Function, Too Unlike our mustaches, cat whiskers are great sensory structures.  They help the eyes detect minute air movement and vibration.  They continuously send signals to the cat’s brain, focusing on different sources of vibration and air movement.  Therefore, cats may respond to the stimulus signals sent by whiskers that we are unable to detect. #5 Cats Have Curious Minds There is a famous saying, “Curiosity kills the cat.”  They process a lot of information. This is because of the long journey of evolution that adapted them to predation. Imagine a hunter hiding in the jungle waiting for its prey.  He will pay attention to each sound, even as little as the falling of leaves.  Since the cats are excellent hunters, they pay attention to everything. Dogs, when compared to cats, are quick learners.  They ignore the unnecessary things and focus on the important ones only. But cats may spend hours following the path of a tiny insect that has just passed by them.   All of the reasons mentioned above, which explain their continual alertness, are considered normal behavior for cats. They are related to normal physiology and are the result of years of evolution. What Is Not Normal Attentive Behavior  Sometimes, there are diseases and abnormalities which can result in these behaviors. Some of the abnormalities are listed below.  Feline Hyperesthesia  Hyperesthesia means oversensitivity to normal stimuli. This condition is characterized by a range of abnormal behaviors from: Self-biting  Wild running Compulsiveness Over-grooming of the skin  Tail chasing and tail biting  Uncontrolled urination Self-inflicted traumas and mutilation Actually, hyperesthesia is a symptom present in many diseases, toxicity, and physiological stress disorders related to the nervous, endocrine, and musculoskeletal systems.  The signs of Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome (FHS) subside after a brief interval. They can be repeated many times in a week. When an animal experiences bouts of FHS, cats may keep on staring at walls, ceiling, and their tail and may behave in psychotic ways. When these behaviors are observed, your cat needs to be examined by a professional. Toxoplasmosis Toxoplasma gondii is one of the notorious pathogens of humans, cats, and rats. Cats are the definitive host of this parasite.  Humans can get it through improperly cooked meat and unpasteurized milk or even cleaning a litter box. This parasite causes symptoms related to altered behaviors such as oversensitivity and risky behaviors in its animal victims and stillborn births in pregnant women.  The odd behavior of animals may be inferred from the fact that this parasite changes the physiology of a rat’s brain, for example, which leads it to take unnecessary risks. It changes its natural fear of cats to curiosity and interest.  The rats are attracted to cats in such as way that they are caught and eaten. In this way, the parasite moves from rat to its …

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Do Mosquitoes Have 47 Teeth?

Do Mosquitoes Have 47 Teeth?

This is whether mosquitoes have 47 teeth. Mosquitoes don’t have actual teeth, but they have something that acts like teeth. So if you want to know all the details about mosquitoes and their teeth, this article is for you. Without further ado, let’s do this! Mosquitoes and Their Teeth Mosquitoes are second in a list of key enemies for human beings, right after other human beings.  According to one estimate, over 1 million people die each year due to illnesses caused by mosquitoes. This is not because they suck too much of our blood, leading to hypovolemic shock (shock due to sudden decrease in blood volume), but because they introduce a large variety of unwelcome guests in the form of diseases. For example:  Plasmodium, which can cause malaria. Dengue virus, which can cause Dengue fever. And many other debilitating or deadly diseases.   Let’s get silly for a moment. Imagine a mosquito going to a sink with a brush and toothpaste to clean its teeth. Doesn’t that seem hilarious? This idea is based upon a myth that mosquitoes have true teeth. Suppose by the word “tooth,” we mean that hard calcified structure embedded in fleshy gums used to break food down into small particles. In that case, it becomes impossible for a mosquito to have even a single tooth.  However, the phrase “Mosquitoes have 47 teeth” might become more accurate if we modify our concept of what a tooth actually is. Mosquitoes have something that acts just like our teeth do. To understand that, we must clearly understand insect mouthparts, in general, and for a mosquito in particular. Basic Insect Mouthparts Insect mouthparts are comprised of five structures: Labrum: upper lip Labium: lower lip that also serves as a sensory structure Mandibles: hard, strong jaws used to cut food Maxillae: used for holding, manipulating, and movement of the food during mastication (chewing) Hypopharynx: involved in the swallowing process and also associated with salivary glands  Keep in mind, mosquitoes don’t drink blood. Other insects such as biting midges and horse flies bite the skin, lacerate it, and then drink the blood that pools at the site. But, mosquitoes like to draw the blood directly from the blood vessels. Mosquito’s Mouthparts  In the mosquito, these mouthparts are modified to a structure called proboscis specialized for sucking blood by puncturing the skin, especially in female mosquitoes.  The female mosquitoes suck blood because they need protein for their eggs.  The proboscis of male mosquitoes isn’t strong enough to pierce the skin. It is used instead to drink nectar and fruit juices.  So what is in the female mosquito’s proboscis? The proboscis in mosquitoes comprises 6 needles encased in a sheath and is strong enough to cut through clothes and skin all the way to the walls of blood vessels.  The mouthparts mentioned above are present and perform a similar but slightly modified function during bloodsucking.  Labrum surrounds six needles and acts as a sheath. This sheath is not inserted into the skin during the bloodsucking. Rather it functions as a guide and has receptors for taste.  Mandibles (a pair) are specialized to cut through the skin and are thrust forward as far as possible in search of a blood vessel.  Maxillae (a pair) are not as sharp as the mandibles but end up like a knife with a sawtooth appearance. There are 47 teeth-like structures on the maxillae which perform two important functions: Cutting through the skin as mandibles and helping in the probing of the proboscis. The maxillae are thrust before the mandibles in the forward movement of the mosquito’s head. They hold the proboscis when the mandibles are being advanced and do not slip back during mandible forward-pushing. This is achieved by those 47 small saw-like teeth structures present at the edges of maxillae. These saw-like structures on the edges of maxillae are considered to be “MOSQUITO TEETH.”  Labium acts as a suction pipe through which the fresh blood is sucked into the mosquito’s gut. Hypopharynx plays a key role in preventing the blood from clotting at the mosquito bite site setting the foundation for the continuous availability of blood to the mosquito. Hypopharynx pumps the saliva into the borehole. This saliva contains anticoagulants that prevent blood clotting.  All these needle-like structures play a key role in the overall process of bloodsucking. They are inserted for a very brief interval, and the person realizes the bite only after it has occurred.  In other words, the so-called teeth (serrated edges of maxillae) are so small that a person is unaware of their insertion into the skin.  Then, why do we feel itchy at the site of the mosquito bite? Is it due to the mosquito’s teeth? No, the itching and swelling at the mosquito’s bite are due to the body’s allergic reaction to the chemicals present in the mosquito’s saliva. Also, the itching and swelling are felt after the bite has occurred, not during the bite.  So, mosquitoes don’t have true teeth. Still, they have something that acts like teeth that are the sharp saw teeth-like structures present at the edges of maxillae used to cut and support the proboscis during bloodsucking. 

Do Rats and Mice Eat or Deter Spiders?

Do Rats and Mice Eat or Deter Spiders?

This is whether rats and mice eat or deter spiders. Yes, rats and mice eat spiders. But do they deter them too? So if you want to know all the details about rats and mice eating spiders and how they are deterring them, this article is for you. Let’s jump right in! Rats and Mice Eat Spiders Let me break this question into two parts: Do rats and mice eat spiders? Are the spiders deterred by rats or mice? The answer to the first question is straightforward: Yes, rats and mice can eat insects, spiders, and many other things.  Rats and mice are some of the most successful mammals that adapt quickly to a large variety of habitats.  One of their adaptations to congested urban environments is “to change their eating habits,” as needed.  Rats eat various food ranging from meat and cheese to vegetables to garbage and even pet food. What about spiders? Can mice eat them? Before getting into the debate, let us answer another question: Are spiders edible? Yes, spiders are completely edible. Even humans eat spiders.  For example, there is a delicious dish that uses fried spiders as its main ingredient in Cambodia.  The large spiders used for this dish, considered a delicacy in Cambodia, are a type of tarantula. A group of large hairy spiders with more than 1000 species is sometimes the size of the human palm. Thailand, China, and even Mexico have traditions of eating these types of spiders. Rats eat spiders too, but a spider meal is not the dish most liked by rats. We know this because of a study conducted in New Zealand.  The scientists observed a population of different invertebrates before and after killing invasive rats, often called “black ship rats.”  The scientists observed an insignificant increase in the spiders after the rats were killed compared to tree weta—the most delicious insects consumed by invasive rats in the country—which increased by three times. This proves that the spiders are not the preferred food for rats, but rats can eat them. Another reported fact is that there are incidences of “spiders preying upon rats and other mammals.”  In one study, 42 such incidences were reported. Black widow spiders and other poison spiders were involved in killing small non-flying mammals.  Spiders themselves are truly carnivorous and obtain their food mostly by capturing prey using webs or directly attacking the prey, as in jumping spiders. What about the 2nd question? Are spiders deterred by rats? The answer to this question is complex and, generally, the answer is no. Let me explain. By “being deterred,” we mean the conscious fear of consequences when confronted with a particular stimulus or situation (rats in this case).  Let me ask you an interesting question:  Will your response be the same or different if you deal with two different enemies who have the same power, but you know only one of them?  Of course, it will be different. You will be concerned more about the one whose abilities are known to you. You can consider the other one as weaker or stronger depending upon your state of mind. In scientific terms, we call it a search image.  To be deterred by a situation, we must have an image of serious consequences in our minds. This image could be due to failure in a previous encounter with a similar situation. Thus, failure or success in the past becomes imprinted in our minds and influences our decision-making. This is not true in the case of spiders. They cannot memorize things for a longer period of time.  According to another study, the little brain of the web spider is unable to store the image of the prey it hunted and will be lost after a brief interval.  So, when spiders cannot remember the image of the rats, how can they be deterred when facing them?  But, this is not always the case. Although spiders have a short memory, they are not dumb at all. On the contrary, they can sometimes have remarkable abilities for decision-making while fighting or hunting.  For example, jumping spiders, such as those in one area of the Philippines, can decide the direction of their attack on the prey depending upon the situation.  Another example is Portia, a specific type of jumping spider who is an efficient hunter that eats other spiders.  Portia hunts by sneaking into the webs of other prey spiders and produces decoy signals to attract the prey spider (the resident of that web).  The prey spider interprets these signals as an insect ensnared in the web—lunch has arrived. However, as the prey spider enters its own web, the Portia attacks.  Every prey spider only understands a specific signal. So Portia changes the signal for each type of prey spider.  To achieve success, a Portia produces a large variety of signals. She then sticks to a specific one that proves effective. Can you imagine where this military tactic comes from?  Similarly, another type of orb weaver spider, Argiope appensa, is very intelligent. When a predator enters its web, it sets its own web in motion by pumping action and makes the predator fall.  This discussion takes us to a new question: How can spiders recognize their prey when they have only a short memory? Most spiders capture their prey through web hunting. They are not always very specific about their prey, but some do have prey preferences. They recognize their prey by using innate search images; that is, the image of that particular prey is present in the spider’s instincts. That means the spider will attack a specific prey with each encounter.  Spiders are not deterred by rats as the images of rats are not in their instincts. This may be due to the fact that spiders are not part of the preferred diet for rats.  Otherwise, evolution would have provided the innate search image of rats as a potential predator in a spider’s mind. The bottom line is that rats can eat spiders, but they don’t love to eat …

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Insects vs. Arthropods: What Is the Difference?

Insects vs. Arthropods: What Is the Difference?

Here’s the difference between insects and arthropods: All insects are arthropods, though not all arthropods are insects. These are the 9 key reasons why insects are arthropods, but not all arthropods are insects: Number of units (body segmentation) Composition of exoskeleton Number and location of legs Antennae Eyes Wings Metamorphosis and larval stages Respiratory system Excretory system If you want to learn all about the differences between insects and arthropods, then you’ve come to the right place. Let’s get started! Is There a Difference Between Insects and Arthropods? Imagine you see a:  Butterfly  Spider Lobster Centipede or Millipede Most of us think of all of these as part of the same group of living organisms. You are partially correct. All of them are part of the phylum Arthropoda.  However, they are not the same. Butterflies—Insect Spider—Arachnid  Lobster—Crustaceans Centipedes and Millipedes—Myriapoda To most of us, the term “Insect” represents all the arthropods. We get confused because we lump all of these organisms together even though most on this list are technically not insects.  Just remember: “All insects are arthropods, but all arthropods are not insects.”  To better understand the differences between insects and arthropods, let’s introduce some important terms and concepts.   What Are Arthropods? The largest phylum of the kingdom Animalia is Arthropoda. To be called an arthropod, the organism must have the following characteristics: Jointed appendages. Chitinous (made of chitin), non-living, waxy, moisture-proof exoskeleton which serves the purpose of protection and to provide a place for muscle attachment. It is often hardened by the deposition of calcium or silica. The organism must shed its exoskeleton to grow as part of a process called molting. Exoskeleton gives rise to many appendages and projections modified for protection, predation, sperm injection, filtering food, sensing and communication, and much more.   Segmented body; the number of segments can vary in different arthropods. Antennae are the modified projections made up of chitin use for sensing the environment and for communication. Compound eye is made up of specialized cells called Ommatidia, which detect the stimulus of eyes and rarely form an image different from ours.  The main body cavity is called coelom and possesses bilateral summitry (i.e., the body can be cut into two mirror images using one plane only). An open circulatory system consisting of a tubular heart, blood-like fluid (hemolymph) with no red blood cells, and hemoglobin. Most arthropods don’t need to transport oxygen, but some have a blue-pigmented protein called hemocyanin dissolved in their hemolymph.  The excretory system of arthropods is of two types: 1) Excretion through gills, as in aquatic arthropods; and 2) Excretion through Malpighian tubules, which are joined to the gut, as in terrestrial arthropods.  Arthropods are further divided into five major groups:  Trilobites have been extinct since the Devonian Period. Chelicerata consisting of sea spiders, scorpions, spiders, ticks, mites, and horseshoe crab. Crustaceans are aquatic invertebrates such as shrimp, lobster, crabs, and woodlice. Hexapoda is comprised of insects and insect-like organisms. Myriapoda are centipedes and millipedes. What Are Insects? The above discussion clarifies that “Arthropods” consist of many broader groups, and insects are just one group within that larger group.  Although the total number of insects within Arthropoda is huge, they are still just a subdivision of arthropods.  Let’s discuss the differences between insects and other arthropods to better understand what makes insects distinctive.  What Are the Differences Between Insects and Arthropods? (9 Differences) Here are the differences between insects and arthropods: #1 Number of Units (Body Segmentation) The body of an insect consists of three parts: Head Thorax (further divided into three segments)  Abdomen (consists of 11 abdominal segments).  Other arthropods have a different body segmentation ranging from only two in arachnids to 15 to 170 segments found in centipedes.  #2 Composition of Exoskeleton The second layer (procuticle) of the exoskeleton of insects is composed of chitin and sclerotin. But the exoskeleton of crustaceans contains magnesium calcite and amorphous calcium phosphate.  The difference in the composition is the result of evolutionary changes related to habitat and their niche specialization. #3 Number and Location of Legs Six legs in three pairs are the most important characteristic of insects and are attached to the thoracic segments only. Other arthropods have a variety of leg organization: 4 pairs in arachnids  5 pairs in some crustaceans Multiple pairs in centipedes and millipedes.  #4 Antennae Antennae are the appendages attached to the head (the primary antennae) or, in some cases, the second segment (secondary antennae) in arthropods.  Insects have only one pair of antennae attached to the 2nd segment only and use them for a variety of purposes depending upon species: Olfactory sensation Taste sensation, as in the diamondback moth Mating as in African cotton leaf-worm As a compass, as in monarch butterflies.  Other arthropods, such as crustaceans, have 2 pairs of antennae which they use for sensation, communication, attachment, and even for swimming during larval stages. Some arthropods don’t have antennae at all, such as spiders, mites, and scorpions.  #5 Eyes Most insects have a dichoptic arrangement of the eyes, which means they have two eyes arranged on each side of their head.  Other arthropods may have a large number of eyes which have a variety of different arrangements such as a large number of the eyes arranged not only in the center of the head, but also on the sides and back of the head, as in the horseshoe crab.  #6 Wings Insects are the only invertebrates that have developed the ability to fly. Their muscles are adapted to contract multiple times on a single nerve impulse (signal to contract).  All insects have developed a pair of wings that they can shed, but most fly during at least one phase of their life.  #7 Metamorphosis and Larval Stages Normally, insects pass through four stages of development: Egg  A mobile or immobile larva  Pupa Adult The developing insects in all these stages look different, and none of the stages look alike. Although there is an incomplete metamorphosis, the larval stages of other arthropods are different from insects. For example, crustaceans pass through: Nauplius larval stage  Zoea larval stage Mysis  Post larval stage Adult growth stage  #8 Respiratory System Insect respiratory system …

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Does Raid® Ant and Roach Killer Kills Spiders Too?

Does Raid® Ant and Roach Killer Kills Spiders Too?

This is whether Raid® Ant and Roach Killer kills spiders too. Short answer: yes. So if you want to know in detail why and how Raid® Ant and Roach Killer eradicates spiders, then you’re in the right place. Let’s jump right in! Raid® Ant and Roach Killer Kills Spiders Have you ever considered that while you proceed against insects you don’t like, you may inflict harm on yourself by killing beneficial insects like butterflies, bees, and spiders?   Yet, when you use insecticides to fight against roaches and fire ants, you may kill many beneficial and harmless insects.  Think of it as collateral damage. This is a sad reality and something we should think about every time we use an insecticide product.  Insecticides Kill Everything in Its Path Did you ever see the movie 40 Days and Nights?  In that movie, they discuss the importance of honey bees to survive human beings on the planet. Without honey bees, many of the foods we eat that require pollination to reproduce would not be pollinated.  Here’s something to think about: There are over one million ants for every one human being. Can you imagine what the world would be like without ants clearing away the small pieces of biscuits and bread we drop on the ground?  There are dozens of beneficial insects in and around our homes, including, but not limited to: Ladybird (ladybugs)  Butterflies Moths Flies Bees  They all perform some important work from cleaning and clearing surfaces to controlling other harmful insects to pollinated crops we used for food. These insects reinforce the idea that “Nothing in this Universe is without a purpose.” One of the best ways to control harmful insects is to use a predator insect to control them. This is called biological control.  What About Spiders? Are They Beneficial? Spiders can be beneficial, but there are a few that can be considered dangerous spiders.  A few of these dangerous ones live in places with larger human populations. Still, most live in more rural or secluded areas such as deserts and forests. Here are some examples of some of the most beneficial spiders:  Jumping Spiders The bite of a jumping spider is harmless to humans. However, they control many of the flies and other annoying insects in our homes, such as ants.  Most of the jumping spider species are so selective in their preying behavior that they don’t attack the worker ants, as an example. They are one of the biggest biological controllers of ants and flies.  Wolf Spiders These exceptionally robust and keen hunters are also harmless to humans and pose no threat to human health.  Unless someone is an arachnophobe, they can grow to be almost 2 inches or 5 centimeters in size! They look scary but really aren’t. Orb-weaver Spiders This large family of spiders is a perfect example of the saying, “the enemy of the enemy is my friend.”  They wrap and kill wasps and other venomous insects and release a pheromone that attracts their insect prey. These prey species fly toward their web, get stuck, and become part of the spider’s dinner buffet.  There are other beneficial garden spiders, including: Crab Spider Funnel Weaver Spider And many others worthy of exploration. So, if we indiscriminately use insecticides and pesticides, we risk destroying all types of insects.  By doing so, we disrupt the food chain and any natural biological control mechanisms. So, we should not use insecticides unless they are absolutely necessary.  Does Raid® Kill Spiders, Too? The answer is: Of course, it can kill spiders.   Raid® contains Pyrethroids which can occur both naturally as well as synthetically.  In the case of Raid®, synthetic pyrethroids such as Imiprothrin and Cypermethrin are the main killing ingredients.  These compounds act by keeping the voltage-gated sodium channels open, putting the insect’s muscles into a hyperactive state, leading to paralysis.  All arachnids (spiders, mites, and ticks) have these channels and are equally prone to the action of these drugs.  Cypermethrin Affect on Spiders The effect of cypermethrin on spiders has been studied for years. For all families of spiders, it has been proven toxic.  The LD50 (Lethal dose that kills 50% of the spiders exposed) for spiders is 103 ng/g and 1000 ng/g for young and adult spiders.  Cypermethrin is a broad-spectrum insecticide that kills spiders in two ways: Any general use of this chemical against harmful insects will also kill beneficial ones, including spiders beneficial to our home gardens or general agriculture.  The other point to consider is that spiders are beneficial because they eat other insects. If we kill their prey, we, in effect, starve these beneficial spiders.  Imiprothrin Affect on Spiders The second most important component of Raid® is Imiprothrin, a pyrethroid-like cypermethrin. It acts similarly, making it equally toxic to spiders.  When combined with cypermethrin, both these chemicals are synergistic (show more than the combined effect of both drugs), proving to be even more toxic spiders.  Hence, To Control Insects, You Should Follow These Guidelines:  Try your maximize your physical control over harmful insects by using non-toxic systems such as screens, nets, electric insect zappers, and even certain insect bait traps to prevent insects from entering your home.  Don’t remove all insects from your home. Many of them are beneficial and often harmless to humans, especially spiders.  If you have arachnophobia, physically remove them from your house instead of killing them.  Sometimes insecticide use is unavoidable. If this is the case, use only the smallest possible dose to avoid killing harmless insects and spray only in the areas where it is absolutely necessary. Basically, use insecticides sparingly and with specificity.  The biological control of insects is often the best strategy to safeguard kids and pets from harmful interactions with insects.  Remember, insecticides can also be toxic to human beings and animals. We should work to balance safety with preserving nature for future generations. 

Why Do Insects Come Out After a Rain?

Why Do Insects Come Out After a Rain?

This is why insects come out after a rain. Many insects prefer warm, humid environments. So if you want to know why insects come out after a rain, then this article is for you. Keep reading! Insects Come Out After a Rain for Two Reasons Have you ever wondered why small insects emerge after it rains?  We all have seen a lot of flying insects rise up after a rainstorm only to end up as dinner for frogs and lizards.  But why do so many insects come out? Are they enjoying a wonderful picnic after the rain?  Or did the rainwater flood and destroyed their homes, and the survivors are seeking shelter?  Or both, or maybe neither.  The reason this swarming happens for each insect is different. Even so, they fall into two main groups: Some insects come out after heavy rains because of damage to their homes due to flooding and searching for a safer place.   It may also be the perfect time to breed and produce new generations. Why Insects Come Out in Abundance After It Rains The bottom line is many insects thrive after the rain because they love a hot, humid environment, so they can: Lay eggs  Mate and breed Nourish their larvae  Avoid drowning  Enjoy fresh air   Here’s why insects come out after it rains:  Nuptial Flights in Fire Ants Many types of ants exhibit a behavior when it is time to breed. They develop wings and fly away.  The optimal conditions for these flights of reproduction are:  80% humidity Temperature of 75.2-89.6 °F These conditions often occur right after a summer rain.   Therefore, these young, loving couples come out to breed.  Hundreds of virgin queen ants and males join and fly together after the rain as part of their mating ritual.  After mating, males die due to the explosion of their genitals during sex, and female queens shed their wings and start egg-laying. This type of behavior also happens in many bees and fly species too. Flying Termites Termites are destructive to wood and paper. Unfortunately, in some countries where they are abundant, the damage can be so common that insurance companies won’t permit you to claim termite damage in their policies.   After a good rain, a large number of flying termites emerge to breed.  The mechanism and cause of their emergence are similar to ants, but there are some differences.  Ants tend to move in areas with bright light. Termites like it shady and wet.   Floating Ants  Red fire ants exhibit unusual but important behavior.  When rain floods their colonies and destroys their homes, they tend to join together and make a raft.  Hundreds and thousands of ants join together and start floating on the water.  They safely move the queen, hatchlings, and eggs to safer places by this behavior.  Cockroaches  Cockroaches live happily in: Drains Sewerage pipes Underground waste channels where they find an enormous amount of dead organic matter  After it rains, these places usually have a high water load and can flood.  So to avoid drowning, cockroaches show up and enter wherever they find safety, including your kitchen or bathroom.  Mosquitoes Rain works for mosquitoes, as spring works for flowering plants. It is the best time to lay eggs because their larvae can only develop in water.  For most mosquitoes, such as the anopheles, their larvae thrive best in stagnant water.  Stagnant water can accumulate on: Roofs Potholes Old tires Other types of crevices or basin-like shapes that can hold water  However, some species of mosquitoes such as Aedes aegypti like clean and fresh water, such as that found in your plant pots or air conditioner units.  To avoid mosquitoes and the diseases they spread, you should avoid having any kind of water accumulation around your house.  Moreover, you can put some type of natural insecticides, such as cinnamon oil and cinnamon sticks, to kill the mosquito larvae in the plant pots. This approach has been proved to be very effective in research studies.  Centipedes These long creatures also come out in large numbers after it rains.  Though they reproduce slowly and rain does not affect their reproduction, they act as police officers during the rainy season.  They are predators and eat small insects. And because their prey comes out in abundance after the rain, they come out to hunt them.  Who wants to miss a buffet of the most delicious insects when they are abundant and easily available?  Woodlouse or Sow Bug This is an organism with probably the most nicknames of any creature.   Here are just a few: Pill Bug Doodle Bug Cheese Bug Roly-Poly Chiggy Pig Whatever you happen to call them, they usually live in damp places because they undergo coetaneous respiration.  Previously, they lived in water and adapted to the terrestrial environment, but some species prefer damp places because their respiratory system requires moisture for the gaseous exchange.  The rainy season provides such an environment.  Ticks and Fleas Ticks and fleas are ectoparasites of pets and other animals. Like mosquitoes, these blood-sucking arachnids pose a serious threat to dogs and cats—and you—especially during the rainy season.  This is because an adult tick or its pupa will only search for a host to suck its blood when it is sure that there would be enough humidity to absorb water from the environment.   Moreover, veterinarians have seen a rise in the cases of tick-related diseases, such as tick fever, during wet weather. Fleas also thrive in humid conditions.  Housefly When talking about insects, how can we ignore flies? You may have observed a sudden rise in the number of house flies after it rains. The reason is that they need plenty of water to breed.  This also answers one of the most important questions: Why do flies hover around our faces?  They do this because of the moisture in our: Sweat Saliva  Breath  Ken Paige says that the reason flies increase in number before a rainstorm is because flies and other insects respond to falling barometric pressure which …

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Does Cinnamon Attract or Repel Insects?

Does Cinnamon Attract or Repel Insects?

Here’s whether cinnamon attracts or repels insects. In short: it repels insects. So if you want to know how cinnamon repels insects and how to use it to repel insects, then this article is for you. Let’s jump right in! Cinnamon Repels Insects Insects are out there, hiding, ready to rob your precious blood or share with you a disease or two.  You cannot kill them all, but you do have some options: Avoidance.  Kill them with insecticides.  Cover spaces with screens or fine nets.  Repel them with chemical pest sprays. Create natural repellants and insecticides. All of these methods have some limitations: Who wants to stay indoors shaking in fear of insects? So avoidance is not the best option. Most insect sprays these days contain insecticides that are equally dangerous to humans. Moreover, they kill beneficial insects such as honey bees, ladybirds (ladybugs), and other pollinators. Screens and fine-nets are not always practical to use outdoors. Insect repellents come with different odors and are expensive, too. Nature to the Rescue: The Benefits of Cinnamon Nature might be able to lend a helping hand. Many natural spice trees and herbs have the ability to repel insects. Cinnamon is one of them.  The cinnamon tree is a great blessing of nature. It’s benefits are: Used in coloring Creates a refreshing tea It can deaden the pain from insect bites It as medical benefits  Ancient Egyptians used it during mummification Cinnamon was once so expensive that the traders kept its production hidden for centuries in order to keep the price high.  Action of Cinnamon   Most insect repellants contain certain aromatic compounds. These aromatic compounds produce a pungent odor that insects don’t like.  Cinnamon has a bucket of aromatic oils. There are over 80 different aromatic compounds present in different parts of the cinnamon plant, including compounds such as: Cinnamaldehyde  Cinnamyl acetate Copane  Camphor  Eugenol These are all very effective against microbes. They work by altering the composition of the cellular envelope of bacteria.  The change in the cellular membrane blocks the entry of food into the cell, which causes the bacteria to starve to death.  Many bacteria have been tested for the effectiveness of cinnamon oil, including: SalmonellaEscherichia coli  Micrococcus The Effect of Cinnamon on Different Insects These are the effects of cinnamon on different insects:  Mosquitoes Mosquitoes are everywhere: In your yard  The local park City streets At the beach  The good news is cinnamaldehyde, and cinnamyl acetate present in cinnamon oil have been proven to kill mosquito larvae even at a very low concentration in extensive studies.  In another study, cinnamaldehyde showed repellant and toxic effects against Anopheles and Aedes mosquitoes responsible for malaria and dengue fever. Wasps Wasps can be effectively and organically repelled by using cinnamon oil. Cinnamon oil contains the eugenol essential oil, which acts as a repellant and can deter wasps from egg-laying.   Termites Termites have been a nightmare for structures, bookshelves, and furniture for centuries. They eat cellulose and lignin in wood and paper, leading to the destruction of all wood-based products.  Is there any plant or organic product that is unaffected by termites?  Yes!  Cinnamon is one of them. Cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, and alpha-terpineol extracted from cinnamon oil have been proven to have excellent anti-termite properties.  So, have you started putting cinnamon powder in your books?  Fire Ants The cinnamon oil components are repellent to insects but are toxic to some of them too. This is the case with fire ants.  Red fire ants are an agricultural pest because they damage the seeds sown in the field.  In one study, the cinnamaldehyde in the cinnamon oil was found to kill red fire ants. Other Agricultural Pests Burning cinnamon leaves and bark in orchards and gardens have proven to be very effective against oak nut weevils.  Cinnamon oil has also been proven toxic to rice moths and Mediterranean fruit fly eggs.  Stored-Grain Pests There is an ancient practice of keeping neem and cinnamon leaves in rice and grain bags in Asian countries to deter insect infestation. It is very effective.  The basic science behind this is that the essential oil components of cinnamon leaves are extremely toxic to many insects, including: Rice weevils Angoumois grain moth Red flour beetle  Indian meal moth Confused flour moth Pulse beetle   Lice You may not have lice in your beautiful hair, but that may not be true for the animals around you.  Lice can harm their health. However, not everyone can afford to buy expensive insecticides for animals.  Cinnamon oil has been proven to be extremely effective against lice. In a study cinnamon oil killed lice and three different harmful flies which attack ungulates.  Mites In another study, cinnamon oil displayed a very strong killing effect against the poultry red mite and house dust mite.  How to Use Cinnamon Against Insects?  You can use cinnamon in a variety of ways: Burn a candle along with some cinnamon sticks while sitting outdoors.  Sprinkle cinnamon powder around picnic food items. Add some cinnamon sticks to your potted plants to kill mosquito larvae during the rainy seasons to avoid dengue and malaria. Poultry farmers sometimes burn and keep cinnamon sticks outside open poultry sheds to deter ticks.  It was common practice to burn cinnamon along with other natural ingredients to produce smoke that kills bacteria and harmful insects. Insecticide has been proven to work by four different methods: Repellant  Deterrent Toxin  Growth regulator  The bottom line is that cinnamon has all these properties. It contains essential oil components that can be used as an: Insect repellent Insect poison Mosquito larva killer  It is cheap, readily available, and has minimal side effects for humans if used in small quantities. 

What Are the Insect Blood Colors and Types (+ Vital Facts)

What Are the Insect Blood Colors and Types?

This is about the colors and types of insect blood. From colorless to blue and bluish green. So you want to know all about insect blood colors and types, then you’re in the right place. Let’s get right into it! Insects, Their Blood Types and Blood Colors Have you ever killed a mosquito? Probably you have.  When we see them on our body, we instinctively attack them, so you likely have seen the red blood smeared at the insect murder site.  But have you ever wondered if it is the blood of the mosquito, or is it your blood or both? To clear up that confusion, it is the mark of your blood which the mosquito has just enjoyed. So, the next question is … Do Insects Have Blood?  First, we need to know what blood is.   Blood is not merely a red liquid, as we usually think of while watching a television mystery drama. It is really a connective tissue made up of blood cells and a liquid medium called plasma in which the blood cells are suspended.  Plasma Blood plasma is a very dramatic liquid that is an amazing miracle of nature. It contains:  Water (92%)  Proteins (7-8%) Salts (0.9%) Plus, a lot of other dissolved substances such as glucose, nutrients, cholesterol, wastes, enzymes, hormones, etc.  Plasma constitutes 55% of the total blood of a human being.  The proteins found in vertebrate blood include: Albumins (to maintain osmotic pressure to help blood to flow)  Globulins (defenders within our immune system)  Prothrombin and fibrinogen (involved in clotting) Blood Cells There are three main types of blood cells: Red blood cells (Erythrocytes) transporting oxygen to different parts of the body. They contain a red globular protein called hemoglobin which is responsible for oxygen transport. White blood cells (Leukocytes) work in defense of the body against invading microbes. There are many different types, but this is outside of the scope of this article. Platelets (Thrombocytes) are not actual cells but are cell-like bodies and are involved in blood clotting. The function of the blood is to transport everything our body needs to be transported within our body.  What Does Insect Blood Look Like? Let’s talk about the composition of insect blood first: Hemolymph Insect blood is called hemolymph and contains no red blood cells (RBCs). Instead, respiratory pigments are substituted for RBCs. Most insects don’t need an oxygen transport mechanism because they respire through a well-defined system of tracheae. However, some insects, such as grasshoppers, have an oxygen-carrying protein called hemocyanin.  This protein is different from hemoglobin because it contains copper instead of iron. As a result, its oxygen-binding capability is far less than that of hemoglobin.  But hemocyanin performs better than hemoglobin in a cold environment like the sea or lakes, which have less oxygen pressure.  Moreover, hemocyanin is not denatured and remains functional at temperatures as high as 194° F.   Hemolymph Plasma The plasma of the hemolymph contains: Water  Proteins Inorganic ions  Salts, such as sodium, potassium, calcium  Some organic compounds like amino acids, lipids, carbohydrates  The water level in the plasma may vary according to environmental circumstances.  The water content is reduced in dry and desiccant conditions, and hemolymph becomes more viscous, meaning it becomes thick and sticky.   It also serves as the repository for water and other nutrients.  Hemocytes: The Defending Cells  Hemocytes are cells similar to white blood cells (WBCs) found in vertebrates. These cells are divided into four types: Secretory cells produce signals for cellular differentiation, a process in which cells become specialized for a specific function. Plasmatocytes are involved in phagocytosis, meaning the eating of invading microbes at the cellular level, and they make up most of the cells found in the hemolymph. Crystal cells produce a gel-like material in which invading microbes are trapped and killed. (These cells are present only in fruit fly larva.) Some specialized cells found in only certain insects: Lamellocytes (Only present in larval stages of Drosophila or fruit flies.   Granulocytes, Oenocytoids, Prohemocytes are found in other insects like mosquitoes.   The Color of the Insect Blood Here are the different insect blood colors: Colorless Insect Blood Most of the insects have colorless hemolymph because they don’t have any chromoproteins.  Insects, such as butterflies and cockroaches, don’t transport oxygen in their blood.  Their tracheae (respiratory system) carries oxygen to all parts of their bodies. Blue and Bluish Green Insect Blood Because there is no hemoglobin in insect blood, it does not turn red when exposed to oxygen.  Instead, their blood turns blue when it binds with oxygen because of the hemocyanin.  Gray Insect Blood When hemocyanin is deoxygenated, meaning lacking oxygen, the color is gray.  Red Insect Blood While most insects do not have red blood, those in the family of Chironomidae, which is non-biting midges and lake flies, do.  The larvae of most chironomids have red blood because they have hemoglobin in their hemolymph.   Even the blood of some Heterojapyx is purple! Then what about the red color that gets splashed after killing a fly?  You may find the answer if you look at the color of the fly’s eye. That red splash is due to the color of the eye. Green Insect Blood Previously, it was thought that the greenish tinge in the hemolymph of some insects such as Tettigonia, cabbage butterfly, and some Lepidoptera is due to the presence of chlorophyll.  But later studies found that the green-colored hemolymph is due to a mixture of blue and yellow chromoproteins. The researchers named this mixture “insectoverdin” (A mixture of carotenoids and biliverdin). Orange Insect Blood When female cockroaches carry a large number of eggs, they can have orange-colored blood. This is due to vitellogenin, a protein used to make egg yolks, and is usually only present in females for this reason. Do Blood Groups or Blood Types Exist in Insects? In humans, the blood groups and blood types are related to the presence or absence of antigens on the surface of RBCs. But in the insects, there are no RBCs present. Hence, …

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Are Shrimps or Lobsters Insects?

Are Shrimps or Lobsters Insects?

This is about whether shrimps or lobsters are insects. In short: shrimps and lobsters aren’t insects. So if you want to know why shrimps and lobster aren’t insects, then you’re in the right place. Let’s jump right in! Shrimps and Lobsters Are Not Instects This question might come to mind while sitting at the dining table looking at half-cooked shrimp prawns, expressing love or hatred for those tiny little creatures served on your plate.  Your taste in seafood depends upon your culture. Some people around the world might be surprised that someone would eat seafood.  The bottom line is that the shrimps and lobsters (crustaceans) may look like insects, but they are not insects by any definition found in biology.  Both crustaceans and insects are arthropods, and both can be used as food. But the crustaceans are definitely the more popular dining fare.  Let’s take a closer look at how shrimps and lobsters differ from insects: What Are Crustaceans? To understand the characteristics of shrimp and lobster, you must know a bit about their class Crustacea of phylum Arthropoda.  This class, which now can be designated as a subphylum, contains over 67,000 species which includes, but is not limited to: Crabs Crayfish Krill  Woodlice  Crustaceans range in size from: Smallest: Stocki of 0.004 inches.  Largest: Japanese spider crab reaching up to 12 feet weighing 42 pounds.  Most crustaceans are aquatic, but some are terrestrial such as hermit crabs and woodlice.  The bodies of crustaceans look similar to insects: Similar shape Presence of antennae  Hard exoskeleton which is replaced occasionally (molting) Jointed appendages  Body is divided into three parts: Head, thorax, and abdomen But, crustaceans are different to insects.  Okay, How Are Lobsters and Shrimps Different From Insects?  Body Segmentation The body of insects is divided into three parts:  Head Thorax Abdomen  In lobsters and shrimps, the head and thorax are fused, forming cephalothorax.  The abdomen of shrimps is further segmented, unlike insects. Number and Shape of Legs (Appendages) Insects have six legs arranged in three pairs. Shrimps and lobsters have more than three pairs of legs, and most of them are decapods, i.e., they have 10 pairs of appendages.  Their legs are biramous, i.e. legs are further branched into two, which are modified for: Walking Swimming Filter-feeding Sperm transfer Adaptation to Land Habitat Insects are the most successful arthropods which are adapted to almost every habitat: Water Land  Deserts Even bodies of animals  Lobsters and shrimps are mostly adapted to aquatic habitats, with most being marine. However, some live in freshwater, and a small number inhabit land. Larval Stages The larval stages of insects are very simple:  Egg Larva Pupa  Adult  All these stages are different from each other in appearance.  An egg produces a larva called a nauplius in crustaceans, which is converted into zoeal and then shifts into a post-larval stage. The post-larval immature crustaceans look similar to the adults.   Composition of Exoskeleton All the arthropods have a hard, waterproof exoskeleton for the protection and the attachment of internal muscles.  The exoskeleton in insects is composed of a thick waxy cuticle made up of chitin.  But the exoskeleton of crustaceans (shrimp and lobster) is further hardened by calcium carbonate. Gills Insects and crustaceans have two different respiratory systems: Insects breathe with a system of tiny holes (spiracles) present in their exoskeleton and an internal system of tubes called tracheae. Even aquatic insects breathe via small tubes called siphons and some of them can store oxygen in their vacuoles. Crustaceans breathe via gills and apply a mechanism similar to fish. But, their legs are adapted to pump the water into the gill cavity. Excretory System The excretion in insects is simpler and is associated with the digestive system. They have several blind-ended tubes called malpighian tubules, which are attached to the gut. These absorb the waste materials from the body fluid and add them into the digestive wastes.  Crustaceans have more developed mechanisms for excretion. They have antennal and maxillary glands, which are adapted to excrete the waste products. Also, some of the crustaceans, like lobsters, have kidney-like structures in their heads.  Moreover, insects have uric acid as the main excretory nitrogenous product while shrimps and lobsters excrete nitrogen in the form of ammonia.  Antennae and Wings  Antennae: Insects have one pair of antennae.  Crustaceans either have no antennae or two pairs of antennae.  Wings: Insects have one or two pairs of wings because they are adapted to the terrestrial mode of life.  Lobsters and shrimps don’t have wings because they are mostly aquatic.  So What Are Shrimps? Whenever I hear the word shrimp, it reminds me of the character Bubba of the movie Forrest Gump and his historic words: Shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, sauté it. Shrimp kabob, shrimp Creole, shrimp gumbos. Pineapple shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potato, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich … Shrimps range in size from: Fairy shrimp: 0.24-1 inches     Mantis shrimp: 3.17 feet Most shrimps live in the sea (marine) environments, but some live in freshwater, such as the red cherry shrimp, the tiger shrimp (according to some studies).   What Do Shrimps Eat? Most shrimps are omnivores, i.e., they eat both vegetations such as algae and non-veggie foods.  Cleaner shrimps eat the necrotic tissue from the fishes they groom.  Some shrimps are filter-feeders, i.e., they sieve the water through their body and eat the sludge and grub.  Can Shrimps Speak?  Obviously, they don’t have a larynx (voice box), but snapping shrimps close their claws in a way that creates a sound. Sometimes, shrimp colonies become a major source of noise in the sea and can interfere with the underwater communication systems.  Body Parts of a Shrimp Their body is made up of two parts: Cephalothorax (fused head and thorax) bears long antennae and is covered by a hard piece of exoskeleton called the carapace. The characteristic long, slender, segmented, and muscular abdomen.  Most shrimps …

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