Bilateral Symmetry – If we break the word ‘bilateral’ into its root parts ‘bi’ means ‘two’ and ‘lateral’ means ‘sides’. So essentially, bilateral symmetry means ‘two sides the same’ i.e. the left side of the animal or object is the mirror image of the right. Bilateral Symmetry is another name for Line Symmetry.
Examples of Symmetry in Insects
Insects have bilateral symmetry. Bees, house flies, cockroaches, ants, mosquitoes and beetles all have one side of their bodies being mirror images of the other. Notice how the legs, antennae, head shape, thorax, eyes and wings are all reflections of each other across the line of symmetry.
What the Ninjas Say:
Ninja One – ‘Bilateral Symmetry is another way of saying, ‘Line of Symmetry’.
Ninja Two – ‘It means the left side is an EXACT reflection of the right side’
Symmetry of Insects
Nina Three – Line symmetry is all around us when we really start to look!
