Insecta

Question 1

What are the two sub-classes of Insecta?

Answer 1

Apterygota and Pterygote

Question 2

What characteristics define Apterygota?

Answer 2

Wingless with simple life cycles.

Question 3

List two examples of Apterygota?

Answer 3

Jumping bristletails and Silver fish.

Question 4

List some ‘true’ insect features?

Answer 4

Large compound eyes, maxillary palms (feelers) and multi-segmented feelers.

Question 5

Why are Apterygota said to be ametabulous?

Answer 5

no metamorphosis and immature stages appear very similar to the adults, after hatching, continue to moult throughout their life.

Question 6

What characteristics define Pterygotes?

Answer 6

Winged flight.

Question 7

What are the two lineages of winged insects?

Answer 7

Paleoptera and Neopterans.

Question 8

Define Paleoptera winged insects?

Answer 8

Cannot fold wings back against the body (ancestral condition), Mayfly

Question 9

Define Neopteran winged insects?

Answer 9

Can fold their wings against the body when landing and crawl into tight spaces, Stonefly

Question 10

Why are Mayflies and Stoneflies important?

Answer 10

Biological indicators of freshwater quality.

Question 11

What are the stages between insect moults called?

Answer 11

Instars.

Question 12

Define ‘true’ bugs?

Answer 12

Hemimetabulous, undergoing incomplete metamorphosis.

Question 13

Give examples of neopterans that undergo incomplete metamorphosis?

Answer 13

Grasshoppers, cockroaches, stick insects, cicadas, aphids etc.

Question 14

What are holometabulous insects?

Answer 14

Insects that undergo complete metamorphosis e.g. butterfly

Question 15

What happens during metamorphosis?

Answer 15

Larval form (worm-like) transforms itself during a phases called the pupa.

Question 16

What pterygotes have aquatic juvenile stages?

Answer 16

Dragon flies, mayflies.

Question 17

What are aquatic juveniles called?

Answer 17

Naiads

Question 18

How are Naiads adapted to be an active predator as larvae?

Answer 18

Bottom lip juts out to capture food.

Question 19

Define Polypod?

Answer 19

having many feet or similar appendages

Question 20

Define the Lepodoptera larval form?

Answer 20

Never more than 5 prolegs (Caterpillars)

Question 21

Define the Sawfly larval form?

Answer 21

More than 5 prolegs (Wasp)

Question 22

Define the Oligopod larval form?

Answer 22

Well developed larva (Lady bird)

Question 23

Define the Apod larval form?

Answer 23

True fly larvae, few features, breathing tubes, front hook, spirals

Question 24

How do insects fluid feed?

Answer 24

Mouthparts are modified to form a tube through which liquid can be drawn into the mouth. The muscles of the pharynx form a pump. Some components of mouth are modified for piercing. Combined tubular structures may be termed the proboscis or rostrum

Question 25

What are Diptera?

Answer 25

True flies.

Question 26

Describe the process by which female mosquitoes feed?

Answer 26

Paired mandibles and maxillae are formed into needle like structures (stylets) which are enclosed by the labium. The maxillae penetrate dermal tissue to anchor mouthparts in the tissue. Stealth-Like labium slides back and the remaining mouth parts pass through its tip into the tissue. Mosquito injects saliva through the hypo pharynx which contain anticoagulants to stop blood from clotting. The labrum forms a tube through which the blood passes, aided by two muscular pumps within the head. The hypo pharynx runs through the mouth like a tongue.

Question 27

What are common actions exhibited by insect limbs?

Answer 27

Digging, swimming, jumping, grasping, etc.

Question 28

What is the function of the tarsi/sensilla?

Answer 28

Detects sugars and amino acids.

Question 29

How do insects jump?

Answer 29

Often posses springs, can compress some of the exoskeleton together.

Question 30

How do insects climb smooth, vertical surfaces?

Answer 30

Use pads which contain thousands of tenant hairs which have spatula-like tips and gland cells that secrete fluid lipoproteins, large surface area, fluid and van Der Waals forces.

Question 31

How do Bees clean themselves?

Answer 31

Pollen collected on head is brushed off with the forelegs and moistened with regurgitated nectar. Then passed to hind legs which also collect pollen from abdomen using the comb on the basitarus. The rake collects pollen on the comb of the opposite hind leg, causing pollen to collect between the tibia and the basitarus. Closure of this press forces pollen up to the pollen basket which can then be kicked off into a cell in the hive.