How many species of insects are there?
Estimates range from 750,000 to upward of 1 million - but some experts think that this represents less than half of the number that exists in the world.
How much weight can an ant carry?
Ants are the 'super weight lifters' of the animal kingdom. They can carry objects 10-20 times their own weight - some species can carry upto 50 times their own weight. They are able to carry these objects great distances and even climb trees while doing so. This is comparable to a 100 pound person picking up a small car, carrying it 7-8 miles on his back and then climbing the tallest mountain while still carrying the car!
How do bees make honey?
Bees have long, thin tongues that they stick into flowers to suck out the nectar. They also have separate stomachs for the nectar - it can take the nectar from 1,000 flowers to fill this stomach. When they're done, they fly back to the hive, where other bees suck the nectar out and put it into honeycombs to dry and thicken. That's when it becomes honey! Bees then seal up the honeycomb with wax.
Why do moths flutter around lamps?
Lepidopterists (scientists who study moths) believe that moths are attracted to light because of their migratory nature. Moths can travel long distances and are guided by starlight and the moon. Perhaps a bright light at night tricks a moth into thinking that it's the moon! Moths are attracted to specific kinds of light - a white light attracts more moths than a yellow one.
Why are female mosquitoes the only ones that bite?
Female mosquitoes need special nutrition to produce and grow their eggs. Biting and sucking blood from humans and animals gives them the protein they need for this. Since only the females produce eggs, they're the ones that bite. Male mosquitoes feed mostly on nectar and plant sap.
Which is stronger - steel or silk from a spider's web?
Spider silk is one the toughest materials in the world. It is five times stronger than steel, 30 times more flexible than nylon and twice as elastic. It is also five times as impact-resistant as bulletproof Kevlar.
How did ladybugs get their name?
The name ‘ladybug’ was coined by European farmers who prayed to Mary when pests began eating their crops. After ladybugs wiped out the invading insects, the farmers named them 'Beetle of Our Lady', eventually shortened to Lady Beetle or Ladybug.
There are about 5,000 different species of ladybugs in the world. Found with different colours and patterns, the most familiar is the seven-spotted ladybug, with its shiny, red-and-black body.
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