UPSC Prelims 2024 Q21: Environment & Ecology – Biodiversity & Conservation

UPSC Prelims 2024, General Studies Paper I · Environment & Ecology

The organisms "Cicada, Froghopper and Pond skater" are:

Answer: (c) Insects

Explanation

Cicada, Froghopper and Pond skater — all insects

Organism	Order	Key feature
Cicada	Hemiptera	Males make loud songs with drum-like tymbals; nymphs live underground for years
Froghopper (spittlebug)	Hemiptera	Nymphs hide in a froth of spittle on plants; adults are champion jumpers
Pond skater (water strider)	Hemiptera	Walks on water using surface tension and water-repellent leg hairs

Why they are insects:

Insect feature	Present in all three?
Six legs	Yes
Three body parts (head, thorax, abdomen)	Yes
Antennae and compound eyes	Yes
Piercing-sucking mouthparts (true bugs)	Yes

All three are true bugs (Hemiptera), the order that also includes aphids and bed bugs.

Answer: (c) Insects.

(a) Incorrect. None of them has feathers or a beak; the 'hopper' and 'skater' names describe insect movement.
(b) Incorrect. The pond skater lives on the water surface, but it is an insect, not a fish.
(c) CORRECT. Cicadas, froghoppers and pond skaters are all six-legged Hemiptera (true bugs).
(d) Incorrect. The froghopper is not a frog or a reptile; it is a small jumping bug.

Cicada, froghopper and pond skater are insects of the order Hemiptera (true bugs).

Cicada, froghopper and pond skater are all true bugs (insects).

Treating froghopper as an amphibian because of the word 'frog'; it is named for its frog-like jump.
Thinking pond skater must be aquatic like a fish; it only rides on the water's surface film.
Forgetting the six legs, three body parts test that identifies any insect.

Names can mislead — check the body plan. Six legs and three body parts mean insect every time.