Chapter: 04. Animals Common Insects
Colour the image by following the given number colour codes. This is an activity for the student and does not require a textual answer. Match the insect names to their pictures. Stag Beetle (or just Beetle) Think! Name two insects that cannot fly. Think! Name any three places where you find ants in your house. Near spilled food (e.g., sugar on the floor) Gardens (if the house has one) / along roadsides near the house Label the body parts of a cockroach with the help of the words given in the box. (Assuming the labels refer to standard insect anatomy shown in the grasshopper diagram) Name the mosquito that spreads: Dengue and chikungunya: Aedes Think! Why do some people suggest to apply calamine lotion on an insect bite? Calamine lotion helps to soothe the itchy skin and reduce redness and irritation caused by an insect bite. I. Very Short Answer Questions
A. Tick the correct answer. Which of the following is not an insect? The material that makes up the hard outer covering of an insect is called How many stages of development does a butterfly have? The silky case outside the caterpillar is called the B. State True or False.
1. An insect has eight legs.
* False
2. Antennae help insects to feel things around them.
* True
3. An egg hatches into a larva.
* True
4. Silverfish like to eat wood.
* False
5. Ants like sugary food.
* True C. Find the names of the following insects in the letter grid. One is done for you.
1. Likes to eat wood
* TERMITE
2 Is a nocturnal insect
* COCKROACH
3. Destroys our clothes
* SILVERFISH
4. Gives us beeswax
* HONEYBEE
5. A social insect
* ANT
6. Found in mattresses
* BEDBUG D. Complete the concept map. Body parts: Head, Thorax, Abdomen, Six legs, Antennae, Chitin (hard outer covering) Social insects: Live in colonies. Examples: Ants, Bees, Wasps. Harmful insects: Examples: Cockroaches, Mosquitoes, Termites, Silverfish, Houseflies, Bedbugs, Head Lice. Protection from harmful insects: Use nets on windows, Keep surroundings clean, Do not let water collect, Keep food covered, Follow first aid for insect bites and stings. II. Short Answer Questions
Chitin is the material that makes up the hard, outer covering of an insect. Name any five common insects. Butterflies, houseflies, ants, dragonflies, mosquitoes. Why are honeybees called social insects? Honeybees are called social insects because they live in large colonies and work together, with different members (queen, drones, worker bees) having specific tasks to support the entire colony. How are houseflies harmful to us? Houseflies are harmful because they sit in dirty places like garbage, pick up germs, and then land on our food, contaminating it and making it unhealthy, which can lead to illness. They are vectors of many diseases. Why are cockroaches called nocturnal insects? Cockroaches are called nocturnal insects because they are active during the night, usually coming out in search of food after dark. III. Long Answer Questions
Draw, label and briefly explain the life cycle of a butterfly. The life cycle of a butterfly involves four distinct stages: Egg: The life cycle begins when an adult butterfly lays tiny eggs, typically on a leaf. Larva (Caterpillar): The egg hatches into a larva, known as a caterpillar. The caterpillar’s main activity is to eat leaves and grow rapidly, shedding its skin as it gets larger. Pupa (Chrysalis): Once the caterpillar is fully grown, it transforms into a pupa, which for butterflies is specifically called a chrysalis. During this stage, the insect undergoes a remarkable transformation inside its protective casing. Adult Butterfly: Finally, a beautiful adult butterfly emerges from the chrysalis, capable of flight, feeding on nectar, and reproducing to restart the cycle. How can insects harm us? List any five examples. Insects can harm us in several ways: They can spread diseases, for example, mosquitoes spread malaria and dengue, and houseflies can transmit various illnesses by contaminating food. They can damage our property, such as termites eating away at wooden structures like furniture, doors, and cabinets. They can destroy our belongings, like silverfish which can ruin clothes, books, and paper. They can cause painful bites and stings, such as the bite of a mosquito or bedbug, or the painful sting of a honeybee. They can contaminate our food, with ants crawling into food items and cockroaches carrying dirt and germs onto food surfaces. How can you protect yourself from insects? List any five ways to do so. You can protect yourself from insects by: Fixing nets on doors and windows to prevent flying insects from entering your house. Keeping all food items covered to avoid contamination by flies and ants. Maintaining a clean home and surroundings, and disposing of garbage in covered dustbins regularly. Ensuring that water does not collect in or around your house, as stagnant water serves as a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Avoiding dark or bushy areas when playing outside, as these spots may harbor insects that can bite. IV. Challenge
Why do you think we should not disturb a beehive on a tree or building? Discuss in class. We should not disturb a beehive because honeybees can become aggressive and sting when they feel their home is threatened. Their stings are painful, and a large number of stings can be dangerous, especially for individuals who are allergic. Additionally, honeybees are vital pollinators for many plants, including food crops, so protecting their colonies is important for the environment. A lot of water had collected near Fida’s house. She used to leave her window open while sleeping at night. The window did not have a net. Now Fida is suffering from malaria. What measures do you think her parents should take to get rid of mosquitoes? Fida’s parents should immediately eliminate all sources of stagnant water around their house (e.g., empty old tires, flower pots, buckets) as these are breeding grounds for mosquitoes. They should install nets on all windows and doors to prevent mosquitoes from entering the house. They could use mosquito repellents on Fida and other family members, especially during the evening and night. Using mosquito nets over beds while sleeping would also provide protection. They should ensure general cleanliness and remove any debris that could collect water. Malaria spreads through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. When an Anopheles mosquito bites a person already infected with malaria, it picks up the malaria parasites. These parasites then develop inside the mosquito. When this same infected mosquito bites another healthy person, it injects the parasites into their bloodstream, causing that person to contract malaria. 
Answers to textbook exercises