How many legs do insects have? We answer such an interesting question

For example, how many legs do insects have? When it comes to other species of animals, you can answer in monosyllables, calling one number. Another thing - insects. This issue will have to be disassembled for a long time and in detail.

Six-legged

Most insects with the same variety of habits and sizes have the same characteristics. So, in this case, the answer to the question about how many legs insects have is the answer: "Six." Three pairs of extremities are observed in ants and fleas, mantises and weevil, and even more than a billion species. However, the paws differ in structure, and in this regard, strangely enough, and the purpose. "How is it," you are surprised, "are your legs intended not only for the movement of the body on the surface?" It turns out that it is so. Familiar concepts undergo significant changes, it is only necessary to pay attention to the small (in size) inhabitants of the planet. They, as scientists say, have mastered the land long before mammals, have a serious organization that allows them to excellently exist and not pay attention to the "king of nature".

What are the legs of insects

Appointment of the limbs determines their name. Therefore, when people ask you: "How many legs do insects have?", Boldly answer the question: "What kind?" And there are adjectives, running, digging and others. Usually only one pair of extremities is special. This is due to the lifestyle of a particular being. For example, in a mantis the front pair is grasping. Locusts or grasshopper stand out among their relatives a pair of hopping limbs. They immediately catch sight of length and thickness. Cockroaches have runny legs that are elongated. Digging limbs are observed in the bear. They are short and plump, strong. Usually digging the front paws. Water lovers - owners of swimming limbs. They are convenient for rowing, due to hair and flattened shins. And how many walking legs do insects have in this case? The answer depends on the species. Non-specialized limbs are used for movement. They can be considered walking.

The structure of the limbs

Despite the diversity of species, all the legs are created almost identically. They consist of five departments. The loop is attached to the chest by a basin. Then comes the vetluga, the thigh, the lower leg. The leg ends with the foot. Such a complex structure ensures the speed and maneuverability of an insect. Any limb ends with a claw. Specialized legs may be underdeveloped - then they lack some elements. Regardless of the degree of development, the number of legs in insects includes all limbs. The structure of the legs is not limited to the described elements. Each of them is divided into subsections, has options. For example, the foot can consist of several (up to five) segments. Such complications lead to the fact that sometimes only scientists can reliably tell how many legs insects have. Below we give an interesting example.

Bee

Everyone knows this workaholic. It flies, pollinates flowers, collects honey ... And how many pairs of legs does an insect have, and are all limbs so? It turns out that the bee on the forelimbs has special baskets in which it deposits pollen. At the very last segment, the paw, there are the dies, called brushes. The bee collects a valuable product by them. If you look closely, it turns out that the front pair is almost hands with a complex structure. But scientists do not recognize this fact. These limbs belong to the legs and are called collective. Let's count the number of walking legs of insect-bees. If two paws are devoted to collective operations, then the rest of the insect moves. So she has two pairs of walking legs. Basically, it is calculated, but not at all.

And what for gears?

Studying the number of legs in insects of different classes, their structure and functions, scientists stumbled upon an unexpected fact. Some of them have in their structure an interesting mechanism - gear. Schematically it can be represented in the form of two serrated castors, which are linked together. Through the protrusions, they interact and synchronize the movement. What for? It turns out that such a mechanism allows insects to jump with great speed. A miracle that lives in America is called Jesus. It is not capable of flying, but it's amazingly jumping. Even a racing car will not be able to overtake it during take-off. It is interesting that these legs are not located at the sides, but at the bottom of the insect. This makes his life problematic. If you do not synchronize, then the jump does not work. The insect is just circling on one foot. Evolution has eliminated this effect by a mechanical device whose purpose is to make the shocks synchronous. Surprising scientists had no limits. This is the first recorded fact of using engineering thought in the structure of living beings.

Many are confused in the types of invertebrates, answering the question of how many pairs of legs in insects. They are erroneously referred to as spiders and millipedes of all kinds, which is fundamentally wrong. Later we will say a few words about them, but for now let us turn our attention to representatives of the Insect class.

Cicada

In the world of insects there are also their record holders. So, the structure of the limbs of the cicada-pennica allows it to bounce to an incredible height, given its small size. If you draw an analogy with a man, you get two hundred and ten meters. It is clear that this insect has a pair of jumping limbs, very strong and fast. They act like a catapult, powerfully sending the body up. At the same time, the acceleration reaches a mark of four thousand meters per second. And in order not to slip off the plants that feed on the insect, its front legs are provided with sharp spikes.

Water beetles

Interest in terms of the structure of the limbs is caused by all aquatic insects. They demonstrate a completely different, but also unique adaptation. Science wondered how they can be on the surface of the water and not sink? It turned out that the water beetle has on its hind legs a kind of oars. On them grew special hairs, with which the insect performs rowing movements. So it floats on the water. Some species are provided with thickened and dilated segments (this is the last leg section). Thanks to this structure they can perfectly hold on to the water. Although these insects prefer to dwell in calm waters. It is difficult to fight with a strong current. This is not enough for a small creature.

Dragonfly and others

Another amazing representative of the world of insects. This flyunya uses his limbs in a special way. Her legs are provided with rigid bristles. When a dragonfly flies, it so disposes of limbs that it turns a peculiar net. By this adaptation, she procures herself food! Small insects, having got into an interlacing of bristles, immediately become prey and are eaten by a dragonfly. The variety of ways and methods of using insect legs is truly enormous. They are not just for walking, as in mammals. They both row, and cut, and grab. More insects with their feet clean their antennas. For this, the extremities are provided with special grooves. But some types of butterflies, the front legs are used exclusively for rubbing the eyes. These limbs are atrophied and equipped with special hairs.

But what about the centipedes and spiders?

Contrary to popular belief, and the name, the centipede's legs are not forty, but only thirty. By the way, they are extremely interesting in the invertebrate. At the beginning of existence he has only eight legs (almost a spider). Then the centipede begins to grow, the body lengthens, and additional limbs gradually grow. It turns out that the question about the number of feet centipedes is closely related to the duration of her life. And this creature belongs to its limbs very disorderly. Only the scent of the threat, for example, stuck the paw to the web, from it, without thinking twice, just get rid of. We can say that this is a kind of protective mechanism. Quite convenient, is not it? Especially when you consider that the centipede is able to regenerate the limbs.

Spider ... Strange as it may sound, but this representative of the animal world is not an insect. He has eight legs, not six, like insects, and the body consists of only two parts (the cephalothorax and abdomen). In most cases, all spiders are predators, while insects mostly feed on vegetation.