The family of Arthropods includes arachnids, crustaceans, and insects (Bugs) that share many similar features such as having a hard exoskeleton, a segmented body, without a backbone and jointed pairs of legs. Due to their extreme resemblance, people get confused about how to categorize these tiny creatures. Say, for example, many of you do not know whether either shrimps or lobsters are insects or not when you see them on your plate. If you want to learn more about them, scroll down and get your answer.
Are Shrimps And Lobsters Bugs?
No, shrimps and lobsters are not bugs, their physical appearance and internal composition classified them under the category of Crustaceans. Though, the evidence from their DNA analysis depicted that insects evolved from crustaceans that’s why they look similar.
What Are Bugs?
Bugs or insects belong to the class Insecta which includes tiny creatures having bodies divided into 3 parts – head, thorax, and abdomen, three pairs of legs, and two pairs of wings. Flies, bees, wasps, moths, beetles, and cicadas fall under this category.
What Are Crustaceans?
A crustacean is a diverse group of Arthropods that includes animals that have hard shells, characterized by several pairs of legs, and usually, these creatures prefer to live under the water. Shrimps, crabs, krill, copepods, and lobsters are crustaceans.
What Features Distinguish Crustaceans From Bugs?
As both crustaceans and bugs look similar but they do possess certain features which distinguish them from each other. We have shortlisted some of the distinguishing features of both below:
| Distinguishes Features | Crustaceans | Bugs |
| Segmented Body | Cephalothorax – fused head and thorax | Divided into the head, thorax, and abdomen |
| Appendages | Decapods – have 10 pairs of legs | Hexapods – have 6 pairs of legs |
| Habitat | Only live in the marine or aquatic habitat | Adapted to any environment such as land, water, desert |
| Larval Phases | Nauplii, zoeal, adult | Egg, larva, pupa and adult |
| Exoskeleton | Harden by the deposition of calcium carbonate | Made up of chitin with waxy cuticle |
| Breathing | Breath through gills | Breathe through spiracles, tracheae, siphons |
| Excretory System | They have maxillary and antennal glands which help them in excretion. | The malpighian tubules are associated with guts that absorb the fluid and release the waste out of the body |
| Antennae | No antennae | One pair |
| Wings | No wings | One or two pairs |
| Feeding | Algae, snails, planktons, eggs, and plants | Herbivorous – eats plants |
Conclusion
The insects and crustaceans belong to the largest group of Arthropods. Many features relate the crustaceans and insects to each other, but they do differ from each other. The member of group Hemiptera falls under the category of bugs whereas shrimps and lobsters are characterized under the category of crustaceans.
