Topic: INSECTS

General features and evolution

The insects are the most successful terrestrial animals living today as
measured by the enormous number or species and the tremendous adaptive
radiation they have undergone. Insects have occupied essentially all niches
available on land as well as a significant number in fresh water. They have,
however, been notably unsuccessful in penetrating the oceans. No single factor can
be pointed to as the one responsible for this tremendous success, but certainly one
of the unique attribute of insects among all invertebrates is their power of flight.
This has undoubtedly contributed to their success in allowing access to more
habitats, permitting maximum dispersals, and making possible escape from
potential predators.
Insects are known from as far back as Devonian time, and current theory is
that they may have evolved from an ancestral form which resembled the current
living forms of the class SYMPHYLA.
Size
Some insects are smaller than large protozoans, and others exceed the
smallest of the vertebrates. Some beatles (Trichopterygidae) are but 0.25 mm
(0.01in) long, and afew egg parasites (Mymaridae) are even smaller. Most insects
are 2 to 44mm (0.8 to 1 in) long. The longest include Pharanacia serratipes
(Orthoptera), 260mm (10in); a Venezuelan beetle, Dynastes hercules, 155mm(6in);
and a bug, Lethocerus grandis, 115mm (4 in). The wingspread is greatest in some
tropical moths, Thysania (Erebus) agrippina, 280mm (11in), and Attacus atlas,
240mm (9 in); some fossil insects (+Meganeura) exceeded 700mm (28in) in
wingspread.