: Many "beneficial" insects, such as ladybugs and parasitoid wasps, hunt other insects that damage gardens and farms. Growth and Transformation
: Insects have been around for more than 350 million years—longer than dinosaurs or flowering plants. All About Insects | Life Cycle & Metamorphosis The Insects
are the most diverse and abundant group of animals on Earth, making up more than half of all living species. Often called "the little things that run the world," they are essential to the functioning of almost every terrestrial ecosystem, serving as pollinators, decomposers, and a primary food source for many other animals. Key Characteristics : Many "beneficial" insects, such as ladybugs and
: Scientists estimate there are roughly 1.4 billion insects for every human on Earth. Often called "the little things that run the
Most insects undergo , a dramatic change in form from birth to adulthood.
: Includes four stages—egg, larva (like a caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult (butterfly).