Georgia Pest Control Practice Test

A creature with a distinct head, thorax, and abdomen is likely a(n):

1. Spider

2. Insect

3. Tick

4. Any of the above

The correct answer is: Insect

A creature with a distinct head, thorax, and abdomen is classified as an insect. The biological structure of insects is characterized by having three main body segments: the head, which contains the sensory organs and mouthparts; the thorax, which is the midsection that bears the legs and often wings; and the abdomen, which houses the digestive and reproductive organs. This body plan is unique to insects and serves as a primary distinguishing feature from other arthropods. In contrast, spiders belong to the class Arachnida and have only two body segments: the cephalothorax (fused head and thorax) and the abdomen. Similarly, ticks, also arachnids, share this body structure with spiders, having two main parts as well. This anatomical difference highlights that only insects possess the three distinct body segments, solidifying the classification of creatures with such a structure as insects. Therefore, the correct answer accurately identifies the distinctive traits that define insects within the broader class of arthropods.