Insect or Arachnid?

Instructions: Cut out the cards below. Does the card describe an
insect or an arachnid? Glue it into the circle where it belongs. Some
cards describe both – they belong in the area where the circles
overlap. Some cards do not describe either – glue them outside the
circles.

Some have
Head, thorax, Cephalothorax
pedipalps (or
and abdomen and abdomen
pinchers)

8 legs 2 antennae 6 legs

Exoskeleton No backbone Needs to eat

Feathers Jointed legs Wings

Bee Cockroach Grasshopper

Scorpion Spider Tick

The ABQ BioPark is a division of the City of Albuquerque’s

Cultural Services Department. For more information, call 311
or 505-768-2000 (Relay NM or 711) TTY 1-800-659-8331.
INSECT ARACHNID
BOTH
Answers to “Insect or Arachnid?”

Both
Exoskeleton
No backbone
Needs to eat
Jointed legs

Insect
Head, thorax, and abdomen
6 legs
Wings
Grasshopper
Cockroach
Bee

Arachnid
Cephalothorax and abdomen
Some have pedipalps (or pinchers)
8 legs
2 antennae
Scorpion
Spider
Tick

Neither
Feathers

Optional: Create additional cards for each category and use a large wall chart to sort.
• Use photos or clipart of additional arachnids and insects.
• Both – Animals, Breathe, Grow, Living, Exothermic, Compound Eyes (for most),
and so on.
• Neither – Millipede, Centipede, Crab, Lobster, Fur, Can live on the moon,
Endothermic, Abiotic, Wears suspenders, and so on.