--> Aerodynamics of Animals...Insects

Insects:

There are millions of insects. Many fly, but some do not . Flying insects have two or four wings. Flying insects have muscles to move their wings, like birds. The wings may move fast or slow. A few insects can hover (fly in one place) or fly backward.

Insects have 3 main body parts called the head, thorax (chest area) and abdomen (tail end). The thorax has 6 legs and 2 or 4 wings attached to it.

Many insects, such as the Butterfly and the Moth go through stages of growth. First as an egg, then as a larva (like a worm) then into a cocoon (pupa). Finally the new insect breaks out as an adult. It is then that the wings grow and the insect can fly.
Many insects can fly great distances (far). Most flying insects do not not glide (float), but must keep their wings moving.