Adult insects typically move about by walking, flying, or sometimes swimming (see below, Locomotion). As it allows for rapid yet stable movement, many insects adopt a tripedal gait in which they walk with their legs touching the ground in alternating triangles. Insects are the only invertebrates to have evolved flight. Many insects spend at least part of their lives under water, with larval adaptations that include gills, and some adult insects are aquatic and have adaptations for swimming. Some species, such as water striders, are capable of walking on the surface of water. Insects are mostly solitary, but some, such as certain bees, ants and termites, are social and live in large, well-organized colonies. Some insects, such as earwigs, show maternal care, guarding their eggs and young. Insects can communicate with each other in a variety of ways. Male moths can sense the pheromones of female moths over great distances. Other species communicate with sounds: crickets stridulate, or rub their wings together, to attract a mate and repel other males. Lampyridae in the beetle order Coleoptera communicate with light. COUNT 10
QSN1 What is the term for the gait of an insect characterized by walking in alternating triangles? ANS1 tripedal QSN2 What larval adaptation is common to underwater insects? ANS2 gills QSN3 What species of insect has the capability to walk on the surface of water? ANS3 water striders QSN4 What do crickets do in order to attract or repel a mate? ANS4 stridulate QSN5 What variation of beetle in the Coleoptera order communicate by way of light? ANS5 Lampyridae QSN6 Insects move by walking, flying, and what else? ANS6 swimming QSN7 Which insects walk, fly, and swim? ANS7 Adult QSN8 Insects walk the ground in alternating what? ANS8 triangles QSN9 Insects walking in an alternating triangle is called a what? ANS9 tripedal gait QSN10 What can insects do with each other in a variety of ways? ANS10 communicate