Texas Pesticide Applicator Practice Exam

Which of the following is classified as an insect?

1. Centipede

2. Sowbug

3. Mite

4. None of the above

The correct answer is: None of the above

The classification of insects is based on specific biological characteristics that define the class Insecta. Insects typically possess three main body segments (head, thorax, abdomen), six legs, compound eyes, and often wings. Centipedes are classified as myriapods, which are an entirely different class of arthropods. They have more than six legs and a body structure that does not conform to the typical segmented structure of insects. Sowbugs, often mistaken for insects, are actually crustaceans, belonging to the order Isopoda. They breathe through gills and have a different anatomical structure that differentiates them from insects. Mites, on the other hand, are arachnids, which is a class distinctly separate from insects. They possess eight legs and lack the segmented body structure that characterizes insects. Therefore, the correct classification in this context is that none of the listed options—centipedes, sowbugs, or mites—fit the definition of an insect.