What Are Insects?

"Insects" is a general term for arthropods belonging to the phylum Insecta. They are extremely diverse, with more than one million known species, about three-fifths of all animals, and about 3,000 new species being discovered and named every year. Like other arthropods, they are covered with a hard chitinous exoskeleton, clearly differentiated into three parts: head, chest, and abdomen, with six legs on their abdomen.

Habitats

Insects live all over the world, with a small percentage living in saltwater. Those that live in the sea are found in shallow water near the shore, except for the genus Halobates Eschscholtz.

In addition to dense tropical forests and warm forests, harsh environments such as the polar wilderness, high mountains, deserts, and caves are all places where insects live. Some species, such as the genus Eocapnia, appear on ice and snow. In such ways, they are adapted to their respective environments.

Why do Insects Thrive So Much?

Insects are about 60% of all animals and are the most prosperous animals in the world.

One of the factors that have allowed insects to thrive so well is their small bodies. Being small, they need less space to live. Also, by changing the food in the same place depending on the species, several kinds of insects can live in the same place.

Also, insects grow quickly, which allows them to change generations earlier than other animals, thereby enabling them to evolve in a shorter time than other slow-growing animals.

As a result, insects have speciated rapidly, and there are many species of insects living in the world today.