Stay Away From My Nest! How Insects Communicate

1/18/2022 9:44:37 AM
Fireflies use light to communicate with each other. Image: gettyimage.com

Do you know?

  • Insects communicate to recognize kin or nestmates, to make their presence known, to look for a mate, or to instruct directions to a food source’s location. 
  • Each species exhibits its own distinct sound pattern that members of the same species easily recognize. Different sound patterns are also used for mating calls, danger warnings, and food presence signals. 

Let's learn some new words before you read the passage:

Listen to the passage Stay Away From My Nest! How Insects Communicate and complete the sentences by dragging the correct word to each blank.

Insects can't talk like we do, but they communicate in many other ways. Insects communicate using their senses. Many species use touch and sound. Some species, like fireflies, use light. Some release special that other insects can smell. They help each other find food. They also warn each other of danger.

Insects usually communicate with their own species. Beetles communicate with beetles. Butterflies communicate with butterflies. But sometimes they communicate with other species. Most with other species is . It's a warning. Cockroaches can make hissing sounds. This warns other species to go away. Insects also release smells to mark their . Then other species know to stay away.

Some insect communication is more friendly. Normally ants eat caterpillars, but some caterpillars have relationships with ants. The ants protect the caterpillars. In return, the caterpillars make nectar for the ants to eat. These insects communicate in different ways. The caterpillars make sounds that the ants can hear. They smells that tell the ants not to eat them. This helps the ants recognize which caterpillars produce nectar. Then they protect the caterpillars from being eaten by other ants!

If you could communicate with insects, what would you say? 

Read and answer the following questions.

Stay Away From My Nest! How Insects Communicate

Written by Krista Garver

Some caterpillars have beneficial relationships with ants. Image: hexapolis.com

Insects can't talk like we do, but they communicate in many other ways. Insects communicate using their senses. Many species use touch and sound. Some species, like fireflies, use light. Some release special scents that other insects can smell. They help each other find food. They also warn each other of danger.

Insects usually communicate with their own species. Beetles communicate with beetles. Butterflies communicate with butterflies. But sometimes they communicate with other species. Most communication with other species is defensive. It's a warning. Cockroaches can make hissing sounds. This warns other species to go away. Insects also release smells to mark their territories. Then other species know to stay away.

Some insect communication is more friendly. Normally ants eat caterpillars, but some caterpillars have beneficial relationships with ants. The ants protect the caterpillars. In return, the caterpillars make nectar for the ants to eat. These insects communicate in different ways. The caterpillars make sounds that the ants can hear. They release smells that tell the ants not to eat them. This helps the ants recognize which caterpillars produce nectar. Then they protect the caterpillars from being eaten by other ants!

If you could communicate with insects, what would you say? 

Source: Mobymax Reading Stories G2.7-2.9

How do caterpillars and ants communicate with each other?

  • through sounds and smells
  • through smells and light
  • through light and sounds

Which of the following is true according to the second paragraph?

  • Only insects of one species can communicate with each other.
  • Cockroaches protect themselves by creating warning sounds.
  • The beetle is the only insect release smells to protect its territories.

Which way of communication between insects is NOT mentioned in the passage?

  • Through light
  • Through sounds
  • Through dances

What can you infer from the passage?

  • Caterpillars produce nectar to defend themselves against ants.
  • Humans and insects have some similar ways of communicating.
  • Some insects never have communication with other species.

What is the main idea of this passage?

  • Some insects communicate using special smells.
  • Most insects only communicate with their own species.
  • Insects have many ways to communicate with each other.

Build your vocabulary by learning these intensive phrases/idioms

Some tenants get rent reductions _____ their help to manage the building.

  • in charge of
  • in return for
  • in addition to

Choose the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined word(s).

Residents have been told to stay away from the region where the ship was grounded.

  • not enter the region
  • not leave the region
  • not divide the region

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first one, using the word in a bracket. You must use between THREE and FIVE words, including the word given. Do not change the word given.

Try to persuade her to think sensibly before she makes the wrong decision. (SENSE)

=> Try to before she makes the wrong decision. 

Rearrange the words in the correct order to make a complete sentence.