Insect WebQuest

Agricultural WebQuest Series

Missouri Farm Bureau and

Missouri State University

Now You See Me, Now You Don't

A WebQuest for 9th-12th Grade

Insects are masters of disguise. They are able to blend into their background, look like other insects and animals or look like they are a part of their surroundings. For each person on earth today, there are 200 million insects. You don't see many of the insects because of their disguises or size. Because insects are so important to our well being, it is important for them to find a way to survive.

Your task is to learn about the survival mechanisms of insects and why it is important to their life cycle. Student will identify and learn about three steps of survival mechanisms, explain how the mechanism is important to the insect and the role it plays in human life.

Step 2. Survival Mechanism One: Cryptic Coloration. This survival mechanism is when an insect's color or pattern is similar to its background allowing it to blend into the background. This is beneficial to the insect because predators are not able to see them. Use the websites below to fill out the activity worksheet about each survival mechanism.

               Examples:
                            Butterfly
                            Cicada
                            Moth 1
                            Moth 2
                            Praying Mantis

Step 3. Survival Mechanism Two: Mimicking. Mimicking is when an insect looks like other insects or animals. This will trick their predators into thinking they are a different insect or animal.

               Examples:
                            Monarch vs. Viceroy
                            Ant vs. Spider
                            Bee vs. Moth
                            Caterpillar vs. Snake
                            Moth vs. Snake
                            Wasp vs. Fly
                            Moth vs. Owl

Step 4: Survival Mechanism Three: Insect Disguise. Insects can disguise themselves to look like their surroundings. For example, they can look like leaves or twigs. The predators will overlook them because they think they are actually leaves or sticks. This mechanism also works for predators. When the predator looks like their surroundings, they are able to prey on other insects.

Assignment 3: Create own insect that has to protect itself by cryptic coloration, mimicry or disguise. Activity Page

You now know the survival mechanisms of insects. You can pay more attention when you are outside. See if you can spot an insect using a survival mechanism.

Competency	7 pts.	5 pts.	2 pts.	0 pts.
Insect Characteristics	3 Characteristics Displayed (3 Body Regions, 6 Legs, Wings)	2 Characteristics Displayed	1 Characteristic Displayed	0 Characteristics Displayed
Survival Mechanism	Survival Mechanism Used	N/A	N/A	Survival Mechanism Not Used
Explanation of Survival Mechanism	Explanation describes how insect uses mechanism in great detail and matches insect design	Explanation describes how insect uses mechanism in good detail and matches insect design	Explanation describes how insect uses mechanism in some detail and some-what matches insect design	Explain does not describe how insect uses mechanism and does not match insect design

This WebQuest was created by teachers participating in Missouri's Agriculture in the Classroom program at Missouri State University through a USDA grant. The template on this site was adapted from a template from The WebQuest Page and the original was designed by Dr. Lyndon Irwin. Assistance for this project was provided by Mrs. Barbara Irwin, M.S. and Mrs. Diane Olson, M.S.

Teachers are encouraged to adapt this lesson for classroom use only. No part of this publication may be transmitted, stored, recorded or published in any form without written permission from Missouri Farm Bureau.

Photo credit: Extension Entomology, Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University

This page was developed by Ashley Noblitt, reviewed by Lyndon and Barbara Irwin and maintained by Missouri Farm Bureau.

Please address questions to Diane Olson at Missouri Farm Bureau or Dr. Lyndon Irwin at Missouri State University.