ESPM42 Natural History of Insects Assignment

Question 1:How many species exist on Earth right now?

a. About 1 million. There are more names than species due to
errors.
b. 3-4 Million
c. 5-10 Million
d. Much more than 10 Million, maybe up to 100 million.

Question 2 :Why are there so many more species of insects than species in any other group?

Question 3:?Eliminate /identify bias Why are there so many insect species?

? Bias? Perhaps insects are not the most diverse form of life
?Very poor sampling and study of other groups, e.g.,fungi and nematodes.
?Humans know more insects because there are easy to see (many don’t require a powerful microscope).
?Insects are structurally complex, and species are easier to recognize than more “cryptic” organisms.

Question 4 What properties of insects have caused them to speciate more and/or go extinct less?

Question 5:Powered flight.How many times has it evolved?

1.Birds
2.Bats
3.Pterosaurs
4.Insects