Question

Create a dichotomous key:

questions:
-does the arthropod have only six legs?
-does the arthropod have eight legs?
-does the arthropod have only two wings?
-does the arthropod have four wings?
-does the orthopod have antennae?
-does the arthropod have a stinger?
-does the orthopod have claws?
you choose a question and say either yes or no with the following arthropods:
fire ant
bee
wasp
spider
scorpion
butterfly
dragonfly
ladybug

Answer 1

To create a dichotomous key for arthropods like fire ants, bees, wasps, spiders, scorpions, butterflies, dragonflies, and ladybugs, one can apply a series of 'yes' or 'no' questions based on physical traits such as leg count, wing count, presence of antennae and stingers.

Step-by-step explanation:

Dichotomous Key for Selected Arthropods

To create a dichotomous key for the provided arthropods (fire ant, bee, wasp, spider, scorpion, butterfly, dragonfly, ladybug), we start by asking a series of yes or no questions based on their physical characteristics. Here's a simple depiction of one:

1. Does the arthropod have only six legs?
   • 
     
   • Yes: go to question 2.
   • 
     
   • No: go to question 7.
2. Does the arthropod have four wings?
   • 
     
   • Yes: go to question 3.
   • 
     
   • No: go to question 4.
3. Does the arthropod have antennae? (e.g. dragonfly, yes; butterfly, yes)
4. Does the arthropod have only two wings?
   • 
     
   • Yes: This is a wasp.
   • 
     
   • No: This is a fire ant.
5. Does the arthropod have a stinger?
   • 
     
   • Yes: This is a bee.
   • 
     
   • No: This is a ladybug.
6. Does the arthropod have eight legs?
   • 
     
   • Yes: This is a spider.
   • 
     
   • No: go to question 8.
7. Does the arthropod have a stinger?
   • 
     
   • Yes: This is a scorpion.
   • 
     
   • No: This is a dragonfly.

Arthropod adaptations such as jointed appendages and segmentation, body organized into tagmata, and the evolution of wings have been crucial for the success of Insecta. Wings are the thickest where they attach to the body, at the base, providing the necessary strength for flight.