GENERAL EXTERNAL ANATOMY Flashcards
Body Segments: 3 (head, thorax, and abdomen)
Class Insecta
Body Segments: 2 (cephalothorax, abdomen)
Class Arachnida
Antennae: Present (2)
Class Insecta
Antennae: Absent
Class Arachnida
Chelicerae: Absent
Class Insecta
Chelicerae: Present (modified mouthparts)
Class Arachnida
Wings: Present (1 or 2 pairs) in many species
Class Insecta
Wings: Absent
Class Arachnida, Lice, Fleas
Legs: 6 (3 pairs)
Class Insecta
Legs: 8 (4 pairs)
Class Arachnida
Wing Structure: Hard forewings (elytra), leathery, often fused together
Beetles
Wing Structure: Membranous, often overlapping but not fused
True Bugs
Mouthparts: Chewing
Beetles
Mouthparts: Piercing-sucking
True Bugs, Mites, Ticks
Metamorphosis: Complete/Holometabolous (egg, larva, pupa, adult)
Beetles, Mosquitoes, Houseflies, Butterflies
Metamorphosis: Incomplete/Hemimetabolous (egg, nymph, adult)
True Bugs, Grasshoppers, Cockroaches
Sclerites (hard plates): Hard, well-developed exoskeleton
Beetles
Sclerites (hard plates): Softer exoskeleton with distinct sclerites
True Bugs
Legs: 3 pairs of short, clawed legs
Lice
Legs: 3 pairs of long, adapted-for-jumping legs
Fleas
Eyes: Reduced or absent
Lice
Eyes: Compound eyes
Fleas
Antennae: Short, club-shaped
Lice, Fleas
Parasitism: Permanent ectoparasites (live on host)
Lice
Parasitism: Temporary ectoparasites (feed on host)
Fleas