Chapter 7: The Arthropods Flashcards
What are three characteristics of arthropods?
- exoskeleton composed of a rigid cuticle which contains chitin
- segmented body
- jointed appendages
What is the body structure of insects?
segmented bodies with head, thorax, and abdomen and three pairs of legs. They usually have wings, but some insects are wingless.
To which Class do ticks belong? Describe their body structure.
Members of class Arachnida. Adult ticks have four pairs of legs; larvae have three pairs
To which Class do mites belong? Describe their body structure.
Class Arachnida. Adults have one to four pairs of legs, usually four; larvae have a maximum of three pairs of legs.
Compare the feeding pattern of mosquitoes and ticks
Mosquitoes are temporary ectoparasites, feeding for only a few minutes- ticks feed for much longer
Describe the feeding pattern/life cycle of the arthropods head louse Pediculus humanus and crab louse Phthirus pubis
The head louse and crab louse spend almost all of their lives on humans, feeding on blood and reproducing on the body or in clothing
Describe life cycle and infection pattern of scabies (Arthropod)
The scabies mite Sarcoptes scabiei lives permanently on humans, burrowing into superficial layers of skin to feed and lay eggs. Heavy infections can build up on individuals with reduced immune responsiveness, causing a severe inflammatory condition
What is myiasis?
The infestation of fly larvae inside the body
How does the human botfly from Central and South America infect humans?
The adult female botfly attaches her eggs to mosquitoes, which enter the skin at sites of mosquito bites.
How are mosquitoes implicated in difficulties with malaria control?
insecticide resistance allow them to keep spreading malaria
Which arthropods are of importance in human disease?
Those that feed on blood or body tissues (insects, ticks, mites) and those that transmit other infections, particularly viruses, bacteria and protozoa.
