desert bugs - Top That! Publishing

GOING UNDERGROUND
Insects have been living on Earth for so long that they have had plenty of time
to adapt to living almost anywhere on, above or underneath the ground.
Next time you’re out in the garden, think about what tiny creatures might be
living right underneath you!
Do insects need to come up for air What is a mole cricket
As they have skeletons on the outside of their
bodies, insects breathe in a different way
to humans. Spiracles are tiny holes
along the sides of an
insect’s body that act
like tiny portholes,
enabling the insect to
breathe, both above
spiracles
and below
the ground. Insects breathe through tiny holes.
Which insects create
underground tunnels
Hard-working ants are masters of the art of creating
underground nests that are designed for maximum
comfort and efficiency. Worker ants dig tunnels to
make hallways connecting the chambers, and the
queen ant has one large chamber of her own, in which
she can keep her eggs. These busy ant workers have a
number of roles; caring for the queen or the younger
ants, digging or constructing other nest work, or
foraging and defending the nest.
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Mole crickets have a passing resemblance to moles for
a very good reason. Their powerful, flat front legs are
very good shovels, allowing the cricket to burrow
underground, where they eat roots and vegetation
with specially adapted shear-like mouthparts.
FACT FILE
A mole cricket has powerful
shovel-like legs.
During the summer, ants store food in specially
designed underground tunnels.
In the winter they help themselves to their
special food stores.