Insects & Invertebrates

Explore small but important wildlife through facts about butterflies, ants, bees, spiders, jellyfish, and other invertebrates.

Invertebrates make up most animal species on Earth, and they shape ecosystems in ways that are easy to overlook. They pollinate flowers, recycle nutrients, build soils, hunt pests, drift with currents, and provide food for countless other animals. Their bodies may be small, but their ecological impact is enormous.

Chapter Contents

5 entries in this chapter.

• ButterflyButterflies are colorful insects whose complete metamorphosis, scaled wings, and plant relationships make them classic nature-study animals.37
• AntAnts are social insects whose colonies, chemical communication, and division of labor make them ecological engineers on a small scale.38
• BeeBees are pollinating insects whose relationship with flowers supports wild ecosystems, crops, and biodiversity.39
• SpiderSpiders are arachnids known for silk, eight legs, varied hunting styles, and major roles in controlling insect populations.40
• JellyfishJellyfish are drifting marine animals known for gelatinous bodies, stinging cells, and life cycles that can include both attached and free-swimming stages.41