desert bugs - Top That! Publishing

Do insects grow
An insect’s hard exoskeleton cannot grow, which makes
it difficult for the insect to get any bigger. Insects grow
by breaking out of and shedding their skin. When this
has happened, they have to grow before their new skin
hardens. This process is called ‘moulting’. Once they
become adults, insects don’t get any bigger.
Do insects hibernate
Being cold-blooded, insects tend to prefer warmer
climates and have adapted in a number of ways to
cope with the cold. In the winter, some insects
hibernate through a process called diapause, which
makes them stop moving, preserving energy. Some
adult insects can stop the water in their bodies from
freezing by producing a chemical called glycerol that
acts like anti-freeze. Honeybees stay in clusters in their
hives and use their vibrating wing muscles to raise the
temperature to keep each other warm when it’s cold!
FACT FILE
Stick insects are the
longest insects in
the world.
African stick insects
can be as long
as 40 cm (16 in.).
6
How long do insects live
Different insects have different lifespans. Mayflies live
for less than a day; some butterflies live for several
days. Many insects are seasonal and live for a year,
mating, laying eggs and then dying. However, there
are some exceptions. A queen termite, for example,
can live for up to fifty years!
Honeybees stay in clusters to keep warm.