Insect Biology Flashcards
What is tagmosis?
Clumping together of body segments into functional units. Segmented - small divisions.
What are the three insect tagma?
- Head
- Thorax
- Abdomen
Name the different types of mouth parts.
- chewing
- piercing-sucking
- rasping
- chewing-lapping
- siphoning
- sponging
- chewing-sponging
What two mouth parts are the most common?
chewing, piercing-sucking
What are the structures of the thorax?
“Bucket of Chicken” … legs ‘n wings.
What are the functions (and structures) of the abdomen?
- Digestion / excretion
- Respiration … spiracles
- Reproduction … testes / ovaries, spermatheca, accessory glands, ovipositor
What are spiracles?
Tiny holes that let air in, mostly on abdomen. Not “mouthbreathing” - insects never pant.
What is a stinger?
Modifed ovipositor (in females).
Why is there a special procedure for removing a honeybee stinger and not a wasp stinger?
Honeybee stingers are barbed; venom sac can remain if caution is not exercised.
What is the function of the accessory gland?
- produces venom
- cements eggs to surfaces
- gall production
Discuss chewing mouth parts.
Most common, damage is easily visible.
Found in grubs, armyworms, cutworms, and most predators.
Discuss piercing-sucking mouthparts.
Second most common, disease vectors.
Rostorum (beak) enables insect to eat plant liquids, blood, etc…
Discuss rasping mouth parts.
Asymmetrical. Pierce, then suck.
Found in thrips.
Discuss chewing-lapping mouth parts.
Chew, then lap up liquids.
Found in bee / wasp adults.
Discuss siphoning mouth parts.
Hose-like projection for sucking liquids.
Unique to Lepidoptera.
