Britannica Sources used in this answer

Which body parts are found on an insect’s head?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Illustration showing a variety of adult insects, each labeled with its common name and order, including walkingstick, earwig, stonefly, tree cricket, dragonfly, female scale, cat flea, thrips, sucking louse, thysanuran, ant, scarab beetle, stinkbug, mosquito, and cabbage butterfly, highlighting their diverse shapes and sizes. — insect An illustration of insect diversity.

The head of an insect is a specialized region formed by the fusion of six primitive body segments. It serves as the primary site for sensory perception and food intake, housing several key structures:1

Eyes: Most insects possess a pair of prominent compound eyes made up of individual units called ommatidia. Many also have simple eyes, known as ocelli, which are typically used to perceive light, darkness, and movement.12
Antennae: A pair of antennae arises from the head. These are vital sensory organs that function as receptors for touch and smell, and in some species, they play a role in hearing.34
Mouthparts: Adapted for various feeding methods, these structures convey food to the mouth. They generally include an upper lip (labrum), a pair of toothed mandibles, two pairs of maxillae—the second of which often forms the lower lip or labium—and sometimes a tonguelike hypopharynx.1