Size: from about 1mm to 150mm

Location: many thousands of species found world wide

Life span: a number of species live over 5 years

Life cycle: egg, larva, pupa, adult. The process takes between six and ten weeks

Fast facts:

• Some look after their larva, providing protection and food
• Some have antennae longer than their body
• Most have good eyesight but use antennae for navigating
• They have three sets of jaws
• Many have two sets of wings, one set used for protection the other for flying
• Some are parasitic
• Food comes in the form of other insects, fungi, plants,dung and dead animals
• Can live in a variety of habitats:- under rocks, in animal nest, fungi, water, mud, plants, and all types of food
• Some use their foul tasting blood as a defense from attack
• Some have modified legs for jumping, swimming, digging, running and holding
• They have six legs
• There are over 350,000 species