Insekt

Insekt is the German singular noun for an insect; the plural is Insekten. In English, the term refers to members of the class Insecta, the largest and most diverse group of animals. Insects are arthropods with a body divided into head, thorax, and abdomen, six legs, and typically one or two pairs of wings.

Key features include a chitinous exoskeleton, a segmented body, and a nervous and digestive system adapted to a high degree of specialization. Most insects breathe through a network of tracheae and spiracles, and their developmental life cycles often involve metamorphosis.

Life cycles come in two main forms: incomplete metamorphosis (hemimetabolous), where nymphs resemble smaller adults, and complete metamorphosis (holometabolous), with egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages. Insects inhabit almost every habitat, from forests to deserts to urban areas.

Ecologically, insects perform essential roles as pollinators, decomposers, herbivores, and predators; they are integral to many food webs. They are also economically important, as pests in agriculture and as beneficial species for pollination, pest control, silk production, honey, and other products.

Conservation concerns include habitat loss, pollution, pesticides, and climate change, which threaten many insect populations. Conservation and sustainable management rely on monitoring biodiversity, reducing chemical use, and preserving habitats.