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A male Xylocopa virginica (Eastern Carpenter bee) on Redbud (Cercis canadensis)

Bees can suffer serious effects from toxic chemicals in their environments. These include various synthetic chemicals, particularly insecticides, as well as a variety of naturally occurring chemicals from plants, such as ethanol resulting from the fermentation of organic materials. Bee intoxication can result from exposure to ethanol from fermented nectar, ripe fruits, and manmade and natural chemicals in the environment. The effects of alcohol on bees are sufficiently similar to the effects of alcohol on humans that honey bees have been used as models of human ethanol intoxication. The metabolism of bees and humans is sufficiently different that bees can safely collect nectars from plants that contain compounds toxic to humans. The honey produced by bees from these toxic nectars can be poisonous if consumed by humans. In addition, natural processes can introduce toxic substances into honey produced from nontoxic nectar. (Full article...)

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... that the animals described in Carl Linnaeus' Centuria Insectorum include the crab Hepatus epheliticus, the rhinoceros beetle Dynastes tityus, the scale insect Conchaspis capensis and the butterfly Catopsilia scylla?
... that male Monobia quadridens wasps will try to sting like a female, but have neither stinger nor venom?
... that in 1962, biophysicist Jerome Wolken proposed sending cockroaches into space as part of an effort to detect signs of extraterrestrial life?
... that Frankliniella tritici, known as Eastern flower thrips, is an insect that damages crops in the United States of America, including strawberries, grapes, beans and asparagus?
... that the extinct ant-like stone beetle Kachinus, found in Cretaceous amber, is similar in appearance to the modern genus Paraneseuthia?

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The following are images from various insect-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1Mazothairos, a Carboniferous member of the now extinct order Palaeodictyoptera. (from Evolution of insects)

Image 1Mazothairos, a Carboniferous member of the now extinct order Palaeodictyoptera. (from Evolution of insects)
Image 2 Insect morphology Legend of body parts Tagmata: A – Head, B – Thorax, C – Abdomen. antenna ocelli (lower) ocelli (upper) compound eye brain (cerebral ganglia) prothorax dorsal blood vessel tracheal tubes (trunk with spiracle) mesothorax metathorax forewing hindwing mid-gut (stomach) dorsal tube (heart) ovary hind-gut (intestine, rectum & anus) anus oviduct nerve cord (abdominal ganglia) Malpighian tubes tarsal pads claws tarsus tibia femur trochanter fore-gut (crop, gizzard) thoracic ganglion coxa salivary gland subesophageal ganglion mouthparts (from Insect morphology)
Image 2
Insect morphology
Legend of body parts
Tagmata: A – Head, B – Thorax, C – Abdomen.
1. antenna
2. ocelli (lower)
3. ocelli (upper)
4. compound eye
5. brain (cerebral ganglia)
6. prothorax
7. dorsal blood vessel
8. tracheal tubes (trunk with spiracle)
9. mesothorax
10. metathorax
11. forewing
12. hindwing
13. mid-gut (stomach)
14. dorsal tube (heart)
15. ovary
16. hind-gut (intestine, rectum & anus)
17. anus
18. oviduct
19. nerve cord (abdominal ganglia)
20. Malpighian tubes
21. tarsal pads
22. claws
23. tarsus
24. tibia
25. femur
26. trochanter
27. fore-gut (crop, gizzard)
28. thoracic ganglion
29. coxa
30. salivary gland
31. subesophageal ganglion
32. mouthparts
(from Insect morphology)
Image 3Hoverfly (Philhelius pedissequum) has indirect flight musculature. (from Insect flight)

Image 3Hoverfly (Philhelius pedissequum) has indirect flight musculature. (from Insect flight)
Image 4Mandibles of Rhyniognatha hirsti, it may be an oldest insect, but also possible to be a myriapod. (from Evolution of insects)

Image 4Mandibles of Rhyniognatha hirsti, it may be an oldest insect, but also possible to be a myriapod. (from Evolution of insects)
Image 5Queen Alexandra's birdwing (Ornithoptera alexandrae) of Papua New Guinea (from Insect biodiversity)

Image 5Queen Alexandra's birdwing (Ornithoptera alexandrae) of Papua New Guinea (from Insect biodiversity)
Image 6A pie chart of described eukaryote species, showing just over half of these to be insects (from Insect biodiversity)

Image 6A pie chart of described eukaryote species, showing just over half of these to be insects (from Insect biodiversity)
Image 7Diagram of a typical insect leg (from Insect morphology)

Image 7Diagram of a typical insect leg (from Insect morphology)
Image 8Bumblebee defecating. Note the contraction of the anus, which provides internal pressure. (from Insect morphology)

Image 8Bumblebee defecating. Note the contraction of the anus, which provides internal pressure. (from Insect morphology)
Image 9Larva of Syrphid fly, member of Cyclorrhapha, without epicranium, almost without sclerotisation apart from its jaws. (from Insect morphology)

Image 9Larva of Syrphid fly, member of Cyclorrhapha, without epicranium, almost without sclerotisation apart from its jaws. (from Insect morphology)
Image 10The Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) have direct flight musculature, as do mayflies. (from Insect flight)

Image 10The Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) have direct flight musculature, as do mayflies. (from Insect flight)
Image 11Venation of insect wings, based on the Comstock-Needham system (from Insect morphology)

Image 11Venation of insect wings, based on the Comstock-Needham system (from Insect morphology)
Image 12Generalized arthropod biramous limb. Trueman proposed that an endite and an exite fused to form a wing. (from Insect flight)

Image 12Generalized arthropod biramous limb. Trueman proposed that an endite and an exite fused to form a wing. (from Insect flight)
Image 13Reconstruction Strudiella devonica as a possible hexapod (from Evolution of insects)

Image 13Reconstruction Strudiella devonica as a possible hexapod (from Evolution of insects)
Image 14A tau emerald (Hemicordulia tau) dragonfly has flight muscles attached directly to its wings. (from Insect flight)

Image 14A tau emerald (Hemicordulia tau) dragonfly has flight muscles attached directly to its wings. (from Insect flight)
Image 15Fossil gnat in amber, a well-preserved insect fossil. (from Evolution of insects)

Image 15Fossil gnat in amber, a well-preserved insect fossil. (from Evolution of insects)
Image 16Larva of beetle, family Cerambycidae, showing sclerotised epicranium; rest of body hardly sclerotised (from Insect morphology)

Image 16Larva of beetle, family Cerambycidae, showing sclerotised epicranium; rest of body hardly sclerotised (from Insect morphology)
Image 17The abdominal terminus of male scorpionflies is enlarged into a "genital bulb", as seen in Panorpa communis (from Insect morphology)

Image 17The abdominal terminus of male scorpionflies is enlarged into a "genital bulb", as seen in Panorpa communis (from Insect morphology)
Image 18Frenulo-retinacular wing coupling in male and female moths (from Insect flight)

Image 18Frenulo-retinacular wing coupling in male and female moths (from Insect flight)
Image 19Scanning electron micrograph of a cricket spiracle valve (from Respiratory system of insects)

Image 19Scanning electron micrograph of a cricket spiracle valve (from Respiratory system of insects)
Image 20Direct flight: muscles attached to wings. Large insects only (from Insect flight)

Image 20Direct flight: muscles attached to wings. Large insects only (from Insect flight)
Image 21Cross-section of wing vein (from Insect morphology)

Image 21Cross-section of wing vein (from Insect morphology)
Image 22Indian moon moth (Actias selene) with some of the spiracles identified (from Respiratory system of insects)

Image 22Indian moon moth (Actias selene) with some of the spiracles identified (from Respiratory system of insects)
Image 23Head of Orthoptera, Acrididae. a:antenna; b:ocelli; c:vertex; d:compound eye; e:occiput; f:gena; g:pleurostoma; h:mandible; i:labial palp; j:maxillary palps; k:maxilla; l:labrum; m:clypeus; n:frons (from Insect morphology)

Image 23Head of Orthoptera, Acrididae. a:antenna; b:ocelli; c:vertex; d:compound eye; e:occiput; f:gena; g:pleurostoma; h:mandible; i:labial palp; j:maxillary palps; k:maxilla; l:labrum; m:clypeus; n:frons (from Insect morphology)
Image 24Male genitalia of Lepidoptera (from Insect reproductive system)

Image 24Male genitalia of Lepidoptera (from Insect reproductive system)
Image 25Evolution has produced astonishing variety of appendages in insects, such as these antennae. (from Evolution of insects)

Image 25Evolution has produced astonishing variety of appendages in insects, such as these antennae. (from Evolution of insects)
Image 26Closeup of a fire ant, showing fine sensory hairs on antennae (from Insect morphology)

Image 26Closeup of a fire ant, showing fine sensory hairs on antennae (from Insect morphology)
Image 27Stylized diagram of insect digestive tract showing malpighian tubule, from an insect of the order Orthoptera. (from Insect morphology)

Image 27Stylized diagram of insect digestive tract showing malpighian tubule, from an insect of the order Orthoptera. (from Insect morphology)
Image 28Reconstruction of a Carboniferous insect, the palaeodictyopteran Mazothairos (from Insect flight)

Image 28Reconstruction of a Carboniferous insect, the palaeodictyopteran Mazothairos (from Insect flight)
Image 29The female genitalia ofLepidoptera (from Insect reproductive system)

Image 29The female genitalia ofLepidoptera (from Insect reproductive system)
Image 30Variety of male structures in Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae) (from Insect reproductive system)

Image 30Variety of male structures in Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae) (from Insect reproductive system)
Image 31The development of insect mouthparts from the primitive chewing mouthparts of a grasshopper in the center (A), to the lapping type (B) of a bee, the siphoning type (C) of a butterfly and the sucking type (D) of a female mosquito. Legend: a – antennae c – compound eye lb – labium lr – labrum md – mandibles mx – maxillae (from Insect morphology)

Image 31The development of insect mouthparts from the primitive chewing mouthparts of a grasshopper in the center (A), to the lapping type (B) of a bee, the siphoning type (C) of a butterfly and the sucking type (D) of a female mosquito.
Legend: a – antennae
c – compound eye
lb – labium
lr – labrum
md – mandibles
mx – maxillae (from Insect morphology)
Image 32Mayfly nymph with paired abdominal gills (from Insect flight)

Image 32Mayfly nymph with paired abdominal gills (from Insect flight)

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File:Assassin bug aug08 02.jpg

File:Cscr-featured.svg Credit: Fir0002

Reduviidae (Hemiptera) is a large, cosmopolitan family of predatory insects, including the assassin bugs (genera include Melanolestes, Platymeris, Pselliopus, Rasahus, Reduvius, Rhiginia, Sinea, Triatoma, and Zelus), wheel bugs (Arilus cristatus) and thread-legged bugs (the subfamily Emesinae, including the genus Emesaya). There are about 7,000 species altogether, making it one of the largest families in the Hemiptera.