Bugs for Birds!Bugs for Birds!

Insects, their characteristics, Insects, their characteristics, other Arthropods and birds other Arthropods and birds

that eat bugsthat eat bugs

What is an Insect?What is an Insect?

Characteristics:Characteristics:

• 3 pairs of jointed 3 pairs of jointed appendages (6 legs) appendages (6 legs)

• 3 body parts:3 body parts:

head, thorax, abdomenhead, thorax, abdomen

• Tough exoskeletonTough exoskeleton

• Most have wingsMost have wings

• MouthpartsMouthparts

• Compound and simple eyesCompound and simple eyes

• AntennaeAntennae

Which is an insect?Which is an insect?

Both of these belong to a very large group of animals Both of these belong to a very large group of animals called Arthropodscalled Arthropods

Arthropods Arthropods

• jointed appendages (legs)jointed appendages (legs)• segmented bodysegmented body• tough exoskeletontough exoskeleton

A Spider is an arthropod but not an insect because it has 8 legs, A Spider is an arthropod but not an insect because it has 8 legs, two body parts and fang-like mouth parts to poison preytwo body parts and fang-like mouth parts to poison prey

This Green Lynx spider is eating a fly it caught from ambushThis Green Lynx spider is eating a fly it caught from ambush

Spiders are Arachnids not Insects Arachnids have 8 legs, biting mouth parts, and no antennae

Scorpions have many segments

Harvestmen have one segment

Scorpions, tarantulas, and Harvestmen also are Arachnids

Tarantulas have two segments

Other ArthropodsOther ArthropodsCrustaceansCrustaceans

(crayfish & shrimp) (crayfish & shrimp)

Photo by Eric RunfeldtPhoto by Eric Runfeldt

Yellow-crowned Night-Herons and other Yellow-crowned Night-Herons and other types of birds eat crustaceans types of birds eat crustaceans

Other ArthropodsOther ArthropodsCentipedes and MillipedesCentipedes and Millipedes

Millipedes have 2 pairs of legs to each body segmentMillipedes have 2 pairs of legs to each body segment

Centipedes have 1 pair of legs to each body segmentCentipedes have 1 pair of legs to each body segment

Millipedes & Centipedes have many body segmentsMillipedes & Centipedes have many body segments

Percent Insect Species on Earth

Insect Species73%

All Other Animal Species

27%

Insect Species All Other Animal Species

Percent Insect Species and All Other Plant & Animal Species

All Animal & Plant Species

43%

Insect Species57%

All Animal & Plant Species Insect Species

Major Insect Groups and the Birds That Eat ThemMajor Insect Groups and the Birds That Eat Them

ORDER ODONATAORDER ODONATADragonfliesDragonflies

Hold their wings out flat when restingHold their wings out flat when restingDamselflies Damselflies

Hold their wings together when restingHold their wings together when resting

ORDER ORTHOPTERAORDER ORTHOPTERA

Bobwhite feed grasshoppers to their youngBobwhite feed grasshoppers to their young

GrasshoppersGrasshoppersHave short antennae and ovipositorHave short antennae and ovipositor

KatydidsKatydidsHave long antennaeHave long antennae andand ovipositor ovipositor

ORDER COLEOPTERAORDER COLEOPTERABeetlesBeetles

Largest group of insectsLargest group of insectsHave wings that meet in a straight line down middle of backHave wings that meet in a straight line down middle of back

Black-throated Green Warblers like to eat beetles, caterpillars and other insectsBlack-throated Green Warblers like to eat beetles, caterpillars and other insects

ORDER HEMIPTERAORDER HEMIPTERATrue BugsTrue Bugs

Have wings that look like a shieldHave wings that look like a shield

Cardinals feed insects to their young. From top left to right: milkweed bug, red & Cardinals feed insects to their young. From top left to right: milkweed bug, red & black plant bug, broad-headed bug, green stink bug, squash bug and water striders black plant bug, broad-headed bug, green stink bug, squash bug and water striders

ORDER LEPIDOPTERAORDER LEPIDOPTERA

Allianthus Webworm moth flies in day (above left), Witch moths fly at night (above right) as do Allianthus Webworm moth flies in day (above left), Witch moths fly at night (above right) as do Polyphemus moths which have spots like eyes to scare away predatorsPolyphemus moths which have spots like eyes to scare away predators

Moths & ButterfliesMoths & ButterfliesCovered with powdery scalesCovered with powdery scales

Moths fly mostly at night and butterflies during the dayMoths fly mostly at night and butterflies during the day

Yellow-breasted Chats eat mothsYellow-breasted Chats eat moths

Beautiful ButterfliesBeautiful Butterflies

Hackberry EmperorHackberry Emperor

Common Buckeye ButterflyCommon Buckeye Butterfly Gulf Fritillary ButterflyGulf Fritillary Butterfly

Sulfur ButterflySulfur Butterfly

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Left to right: Yellow Jacket, Bumblebee, Blue-winged Wasp, Carpenter Bee, Ichnuemon Left to right: Yellow Jacket, Bumblebee, Blue-winged Wasp, Carpenter Bee, Ichnuemon Wasp, Honeybee, Spider Wasp eating a spider, and Scolid Wasp. Audubon’s Warbler is Wasp, Honeybee, Spider Wasp eating a spider, and Scolid Wasp. Audubon’s Warbler is one bird that eats wasps! one bird that eats wasps!

ORDER HYMENOPTERAORDER HYMENOPTERAWasps, Ants, & BeesWasps, Ants, & Bees

Have stingers on tips of abdomen and 2 pairs of wingsHave stingers on tips of abdomen and 2 pairs of wings

ORDER DIPTERAORDER DIPTERAFliesFlies

Have 1 pair of wingsHave 1 pair of wings

Left to right: Yellow-backed Robber Flies; Left to right: Yellow-backed Robber Flies; Mosquito, Flower Fly, Bee Fly, Green Bottle Fly. Mosquito, Flower Fly, Bee Fly, Green Bottle Fly.

Magnolia warblers eat flies and many other kinds of insectsMagnolia warblers eat flies and many other kinds of insects

What does a Golden-cheeked Warbler Eat?What does a Golden-cheeked Warbler Eat?Almost entirely insects!Almost entirely insects!

Can you name the bugs below?Can you name the bugs below?(hint match these names to the bugs pictured below- flies, moths, ants, damselfly, (hint match these names to the bugs pictured below- flies, moths, ants, damselfly,

caterpillars, walking stick, shield bug, beetles)caterpillars, walking stick, shield bug, beetles)

Can you find and name the hidden insects in these Can you find and name the hidden insects in these pictures? pictures? They are using camouflage to keep from getting They are using camouflage to keep from getting eaten!eaten!

Birds love to eat fat, juicy nutritious bugs!Birds love to eat fat, juicy nutritious bugs!

Photos by Pat, Chris, and Nicole Merkord, Eric Runfeldt, and Gil EckrichPhotos by Pat, Chris, and Nicole Merkord, Eric Runfeldt, and Gil Eckrich

Funding to develop these instructional Funding to develop these instructional resources was provided by Texas Parks resources was provided by Texas Parks

and Wildlife Department contract and Wildlife Department contract #409330 and U. S. Fish and Wildlife #409330 and U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Section 6 grant TX E-133-RService Section 6 grant TX E-133-R

Alignment is provided to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for English Language Alignment is provided to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for English Language Arts and Reading, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies where applicable and color-coded for Arts and Reading, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies where applicable and color-coded for

each grade level.each grade level.

Grade 3 (red)Grade 3 (red)Grade 4 (blue)Grade 4 (blue)Grade 5 (green)Grade 5 (green)Grade 6 (purple)Grade 6 (purple)

English Language Arts & Reading student expectations: English Language Arts & Reading student expectations: 3, 4(A,B)3, 4(A,B); ; 1, 2(A,B)1, 2(A,B); ; 1, 2(A,B)1, 2(A,B); ; 1, 2(A,B)1, 2(A,B)

Mathematics student expectations: Mathematics student expectations: 11(A)11(A)

Science student expectations: Science student expectations: 3(A), 10(A)3(A), 10(A); ; 3(A), 7(C), 9(A)3(A), 7(C), 9(A); ; 3(A), 9(A,B), 10(A)3(A), 9(A,B), 10(A); ; 3(A), 12(E,F)3(A), 12(E,F)

Social studies student expectations: Social studies student expectations: 17(E)17(E); ; 21(A-C), 22(A)21(A-C), 22(A); ; 24(A-C), 25(A)24(A-C), 25(A); ; 3(A), 21(A-C), 22(A)3(A), 21(A-C), 22(A)

Funding to develop these instructional resources was provided by Texas Parks Funding to develop these instructional resources was provided by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department contract #409330 and U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Wildlife Department contract #409330 and U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Section 6 grant TX E-133-RSection 6 grant TX E-133-R

AlignmentAlignment