Exploring the Fascinating World of Insects: A Comprehensive Guide. There are so many types of insects that it is difficult to even count them. It is believed that the number of these species is close to one million. Experts know about 800,000 insects even by their names. Now tell me if this is a different world or not? If you compare them with other animals, you will find that 80 out of every 100 animals in the world are only these insects.
Who is more old!
Entomologists say that these insects came to our world some 25 to 50 million years ago. Whereas man is only a million years old. When we read the history of the living beings living on our earth, we find that different living beings have ruled here at different times. There was a time when reptiles, scientifically called "Reptilia" like giant lizards and chameleons (Dino-sar) were spread everywhere. Gradually they became so powerful that it became difficult for other animals to survive. Then there came a time when climate change, lack of food, and infighting caused these giant dinosaurs to dwindle until they became extinct. And they were replaced by other animals.
This is about 70 million years ago and only after that the era of animals started which went ahead and gave birth to humans. This age is still going on, but the interesting thing is that the age of small insects started some fifty million years ago and it is still not over. The war between humans and insects is going on and to tell you the truth, insects like flies and mosquitoes have kept humans in their noses.
You must have seen a cockroach. Hey, the same dirty worm appears frequently in the kitchen of the Johar home. People don't do anything to avoid it, but it still comes from somewhere. Entomologists say that it was roaming our earth some 30 million years ago and even more than that. Surprisingly, there is only a slight difference in appearance between the cockroaches of that time and the present. Take the man in comparison. If you show a man from a million years ago, you will refuse to recognize him. Now you tell me how this cockroach became strange or not?
Now the question is that such old animals do not exist today, then how do we know about them, how many years ago they lived on our earth, and how they used to look. This happens sometimes in a sudden accident, like when a volcano erupts and some organisms are buried in its hot lava. Later, when this lava cools, it becomes part of a rock, and the bodies of organisms in this lava become stone in their original form.
These stone animals are called fossils by scientists. Similarly, if small insects are buried in the glue of trees, they remain in their original form even after thousands of years and they are also called "fossils". Scientists have also found out how old the Earth's crust is. Just when the earth is excavated and a fossil of an animal is found in it, the age of this layer of the earth is also known as how old this animal is. Because today's cockroach is very similar to a 300 million-year-old cockroach fossil. That is why scientists call it a living fossil.
Insect Success Secrets:
Nature has given great qualities to the tiny and delicate insects, with the help of which they have easily coped with the harshest conditions and continued to increase their generations. This is the reason why they are the most abundant of all animals even today. Let's know about some of their qualities.
Hard skin: The body of insects is covered by hard skin. This skin has the same function as the bones in our body. Their body structure is due to this fur and the muscles are also attached to it. The skin also protects the delicate parts of the body. The jaws of some insects are so strong that they can easily pierce even the hardest object. Insects such as termites or lice get into the wood. If they are not prevented, in a few days they turn into wood chips. We know how important water is for living things. The water in the body of insects can be retained by their skin for a long time. Even if they don't get water for a few days, they can survive, but if we don't get water for some time, it becomes difficult for us to survive.
One thing about insects is very interesting. They look like living insects even after death because of their tough skin. If you ever get a chance, you must visit the insect museum. You will be surprised to see that these insects still look alive after hundreds of years and this wonder is due to their hard skin like bone. A human or any other animal decays very quickly after death. If anything remains in his body, it is his bone structure.
Now insects have their skin as their structure, so even a little protection can keep them in their original condition for years. The British Museum in London is famous all over the world. Many hundreds of years old insects are preserved there in their original form. If you want, you can also keep beautiful butterflies, grasshoppers, and bumblebees in your house.
Small body: Insects are generally small in body. Some insects are so small that their structures can only be seen through a microscope. A small body has many advantages. It doesn't matter if the food is less, it will be spent in a short time! It is easy for them to escape from the enemy, where they saw danger, they took refuge in a small place. They also have a small space to escape the harsh weather. It is very difficult for big animals to protect themselves in heavy rain, wind, and storms, but these small insects can easily enter safe places and protect themselves.
Due to their small body, they are also easy to move from one place to another. First, they can fly by themselves and the wind also supports them. A lightweight body gets anywhere in moments. Even by hiding in their belongings with humans, some insects easily travel from one place to distant places. A change of location is sometimes more beneficial for them as their species thrive there.