Question

Insects are by far the most successful lineage of animal. Describe three factors that have contributed to the overall success of the insects.

Answer 1

Reasons for the success of insects are -

1. Exoskeleton- Exoskeleton is present on the outer side of the insect's body. It not only provides shape to the soft tissues it also provides protection from any external injury, decreases the loss of body fluid which helps in controlling the problem of desiccation, provides strength to muscles, and helps in easy as well as quick movement.

2. Flight- Amongst invertebrates insects are the only ones that can fly. This ability helps them in escaping unfavorable conditions as well as danger. Due to natural selection, their body has been shaped to employ principles of aerodynamics very efficiently at low metabolic cost. The elasticity of thorax is responsible for this efficiency.

3. Reproductive potential - Unbalanced sex ratio (more females ), females producing eggs in a large number (high fecundity) out of which most of them hatch (high fertility ) and small life cycle, all these three reasons enables the female to produce a large number of offsprings. High reproductive potential is directly related to the chances of species survival.

Other reasons are- Metamorphosis, Small size and easy adaptive potential .