Saturday, June 2, 2012

Insects' Success Haiku

" Insects' Success Haiku "

by Suzán Jiván

I

Rolled into a ball
as galleries of orders
presented like keys

II

Limbs used for walking
needing to use a hand lens
looking carefully

III

Might be the larva
or pupa of an insect
long, blind, soft body

IV

Leg-bearing segments
modified as poison fangs
immature stages

V

Hidden under wings
relatively primitive
globular body

VI

Common winglessness
oceanic, cave dwelling
flattened side-to-side

VII

Eyes small or absent
legs modified to grip host
biting parasites

VIII

Ventral projections
can jump well, eyes touching, humped
blood sucking in nests

IX

Lives in colonies
often with constricted waists
can be seen stinging

X

Long, sticklike body
widely separated legs
remain motionless

XI

Squat body, humped back
from the front, large, bulbous head
bulging reduced eyes

XII

Short tube underhead
elongating, forming beaks
coiling proboscis

XIII

Wings covered with scales
joined by tiny hooks or hairs
toughened wing cases

XIV

Wings of equal size
joined in flight by triangles
thoracic, backward

XV

Threadlike antennae
wings held together, roof-like
over bulging eyes

XVI

Lacewings and allies
netlike wings, many cross veins
reddish shiny eyes

XVII

Attracted to lights
stalked eggs on vegetation
pupate in cocoons

XVIII

Taking to the air
into far greater ranges
highly successful...

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