The Nature Conservancy in Texas - Insects We Protect

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Explore Texas

Every habitat on the planet is home to a unique complex of species. Learn more about the animals that live in:

Watch Animals in Action

View incredible nature videos from Planet Earth, including a Great white shark plucking a seal from the ocean!

Insects are the most diverse group of animals on the planet. Scientists estimate that there are 4 to 6 million species in existence and discover approximately 10,000 new ones every year. As invertebrates, insects have an exoskeleton instead of an internal structure. They undergo either complete or incomplete metamorphosis, undergoing radical changes in appearance between egg and adult.

Monarch Butterfly

The migratory habits of the monarch mean that habitat must be preserve for it in several countries.

Nature picture credits (top to bottom): Photo © Steven Katovich, USDA Forest Service, United States (Monarch closeup).