World of the Insect

While in it's larval stage, the grub spends several months underground consuming broken-down leaf litter and recycling nutrients back into the soil. 

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Protected by other predators' instinctive unwillingness to prey on them, Anthony's poison dart frog boldly hunts small insects during the day without fear.

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Mainly active during the day, it often enters into a metabolic pause, remaining completely still and unresponsive for hours at a time.

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The orchid mantid is a praying mantis named for its resemblance to an orchid flower

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This insect breathes at the surface or from an air bubble held under its wings when submerged, somewhat like a tiny SCUBA diver.

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The giant walking stick is one of the longest walking sticks.

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In this sexually dimorphic species, the female is green or yellow and leaf-shaped, while the male is brown and looks like a dead curled leaf.

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Is this insect a walking stick? Take a closer look at the hind legs—they’re modified for jumping. It actually is a stick-like grasshopper!

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This elongate arthropod moves slowly, thus, cannot make a quick escape.

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Up to three inches long, the female Florida orb web spider is five or six times larger than the male.

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Less than six inches long, this aquatic amphibian feeds on insects and other invertebrates in slow-moving or still waters.

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A young emperor scorpion kills its prey with venom injected through the sharp sting at the tip of its ‘tail.’

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Scientists are studying the frog’s toxins in search of potential medical uses.

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When threatened, the firestick secretes a stinky and irritating body fluid.

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Central AmericaCockroaches are a very misunderstood group of insects; out of over 4,000 species fewer than 20 are considered human pests.

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The ornate horned frog has pointy folds of skin above its eyes rather than actual horns.

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Digging tunnels, gnawing roots, and defending against intruders are all functions of the naked mole-rat’s enormous incisors.

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Breathing through feater-like gills, it feeds on and hides among aquatic plants to protect itself from fish, birds, and other predators.

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Males are larger than females and bear forked horns used in shoving matches with other males to protect their claim to food or a mate.

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The gecko’s toe pads are specially designed for gripping so that it can climb vertical surfaces.

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