Insects Word Search
Insects, as a word search. 12 words drawn from the habitats, species, and behaviors of an animal group sit hidden in a 15×15 letter grid, running in every direction. Drag across a word to claim it, and clear the board to finish.
Words to find: ANTENNAE, BEETLE, BUTTERFLY, CATERPILLAR, CHITIN, COCOON, DRAGONFLY, EXOSKELETON, GRASSHOPPER, HABITAT, HONEYBEE, LARVA.
Words run in any of eight directions, backwards included — if one refuses to turn up, try reading the grid right to left.
Insects word list, defined
- ANTENNAE /ænˈtɛniː/ · noun (plural)
- The paired, jointed sensory appendages on the heads of insects, crustaceans, and other arthropods, used for feeling, smelling, and sensing the environment. 'Antennae' is the standard plural form of the noun 'antenna'. Related: feelers, antennas, sensory organs.
- BEETLE /ˈbiːt(ə)l/ · noun
- An insect of the order Coleoptera, characterized by hard front wings (elytra) that form a protective shell over the body and folded hind wings. As a verb, chiefly British informal, it means to move quickly or scurry. Related: insect, bug, cockchafer, scarab.
- BUTTERFLY /ˈbʌtərflaɪ/ (US) /ˈbʌtəflaɪ/ (UK) · noun
- An insect with two pairs of large, often brightly colored wings covered in tiny scales, typically active during the day and feeding on nectar through a long coiled proboscis. Related: moth-like insect is not a synonym; no precise single-word synonyms exist.
- CATERPILLAR /ˈkætərˌpɪlər/ · noun
- The larval stage of a butterfly or moth: an elongated, segmented creature with a soft body and several pairs of legs that feeds voraciously on plants before metamorphosing. The word can also refer informally to a tracked vehicle with caterpillar-like treads. Related: larva, grub, maggot.
- CHITIN /ˈkaɪtɪn/ · noun
- A tough, semi-transparent nitrogen-containing polysaccharide that forms the outer skeleton of insects, crustaceans, and other arthropods, and is also found in the cell walls of fungi. It is one of the most abundant organic materials in nature. Related: cuticle, exoskeleton material.
- COCOON /kəˈkuːn/ · noun
- A silky protective case spun by the larvae of many insects, especially moths, in which they pass the pupal stage; figuratively, a snug, sheltering environment that wraps someone in comfort or seclusion. Related: chrysalis, pupa, case, covering.
- DRAGONFLY /ˈdræɡənflaɪ/ · noun
- A fast-flying predatory insect of the order Odonata, suborder Anisoptera, having a long slender body, two pairs of strong transparent wings, and very large eyes; it is typically found near water. Related: darner, darter, hawker, damselfly.
- EXOSKELETON /ˌɛksoʊˈskɛlɪtən/ · noun
- A rigid external covering or supportive structure that encases and protects the body of certain animals, such as insects, crustaceans, and other arthropods. Related: carapace, shell, cuticle.
- GRASSHOPPER /ˈgræsˌhɒpər/ · noun
- A large, jumping insect with a long, slender body and powerful hind legs, typically green or brown in color. Grasshoppers are known for their ability to jump long distances. Related: locust, cricket, katydid, grass.
- HABITAT /həˈbɪtæt/ · noun
- The natural environment in which an organism lives, or the physical environment in which a particular species of plant or animal lives. Related: environment, ecosystem, habitat, niche.
- HONEYBEE /ˈhʌniːbiː/ · noun
- A flying insect that collects nectar and pollen, typically living in colonies and communicating through complex social interactions. Related: bee, insect, pollinator, apis.
- LARVA /ˈlɑrvə/ · noun
- The larval stage of an insect, typically the stage between egg and pupa, during which the insect undergoes a series of physical transformations. A larva is often worm-like in appearance and is usually dependent on its mother for food and protection. Related: larval stage, caterpillar, instar, young insect.
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