Outlandish Insect Wing Trivia

15 Points Per Correct Answer - No time limit  

1. To study insect wings, one must first have a proper understanding of the origin of insects. “Entomology” is the study of insects. The Greek “entomon” and the Latin “insecare” share which of the following meanings? (Hint: consider other English words that end with “sect”.) Cavort about Crawl over Cut into Cover up

2. Flying insects have achieved cultural importance. Which insect music group could be said to have eventually sprouted Wings? The Crickets Maggots From Mars Katydids The Beatles

3. Insects have long been a source of literary inspiration and play an important role in the works of Shakespeare. How many of the Bard’s plays fail to mention at least one insect? It has proven too difficult to count More than two Only two Less than two

4. Insects have also inspired literary controversy. Although few are aware of it, the question as to whether the bug Gregor Samsa in Kafka’s classic book “The Metamorphosis” is a winged insect is disputed. Which of the following is true regarding this important literary controversy? Vladimir Nabokov’s definitive research proves that Gregor’s wings were lost prior to the beginning of Kafka’s account. Kafka wrote about an insect; all insects have wings; therefore, Gregor Samsa had wings. The work itself does not mention wings Kafka describes Gregor as “verminous”. Since the Latin “verm” means “atrocious wingless insect”, Gregor was wingless.

5. Surely a quiz involving winged insects should have a mean spirited and tricky question on flies. Which of the following is true about fly flying? Flies are the only insects with two wings All flies fly Neither Both

6. Which insect flies in a famous Rimsky-Korsakov musical piece based on “The Tale of Tsar Saltan?” Answer: (One nine letter word beginning with "B")

7. It may indeed be difficult to account for the flight of a bumblebee. What accounts for a fat (or any other) bug flying according to unconventional Russian scientist Viktor Grebennikov? Anti-gravity Optical illusion Magic Quantum physics

8. Flying insects have been particularly important to Science Fiction Films. Which of the following films did NOT feature monstrous flying insect(s)? Them Godzilla (1954 version) Mothra Beginning of the End

9. Imagine being an insect who has lost the power to fly. Has an insect has ever re-evolved wings after having lost them in the evolutionary process. Yes No

10. Some may find insect truth both stranger and more interesting than insect fiction. Is it a fact that fleas can jump in part because they cannot fly? Yes No