Intro to entomology Flashcards

1
Q

how long have insects been in existence

A

over 350 million years with around 1 million known species but likely over 10 million

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2
Q

what are the secrets to insects success

A

1) small size
- use many micro habitats
- reduced resources needed
- effect of gravity is less
- predator avoidance
- low body size: body mass means higher proportional body mass
2) Fast reproduction
- high rate of evolution to adapt to new conditions
- high fedundity producing lots of eggs
- high fertility- most eggs hatch
- fast life cycle= 2-3 weeks

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3
Q

how are insects important

A

1) ecosystem services
- plant propagation, pollination
- nutrient cycling, decomposition
- maintenance of plant community structure (grazers)
- maintenance of animal community structure (predators, parasites, vectors)

2) keystone species
- control potential dominants e.g. parasitic wasps
- resource providers e.g. symbiotic bacteria in termites for cellulose breakdown
- mutualists e.g. plant-pollinator co evolution
- ecosystem engineers e.g. termites an and ants

3) economic importance
- value of pollinators and dung beetles
- cause £ billions damage to crops, stored food/ animals
- 20% crops grown for humans to eat are eaten by insects
- control spread of disease 1/6 ppl currently infected by insect borne disease

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4
Q

outline the paper by the royal entomology society = Grand challenges in entomology

A
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5
Q

outline the sub phylum of arthropoda known as hexapoda

A

name for six legs
more species rich than all other life forms combined
live in almost every terrestrial habitat and some freshwater

  • split into Insecta and entognatha
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6
Q

what are the three orders which come under Entognatha within the hexapoda

A

1) collembola
2) Protura
3) Diplura

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7
Q

outline the class entognatha under the subphylum Hexapoda

A
  • Apterous = primitivley lacking wings
  • entognathous mouth parts = retract within the head
  • each antennal segment is muscled
  • only collembola have eyes
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8
Q

what is the class ‘insecta’ under the subphylum ‘hexapoda’ split into

A

1) Apterygota
2) pterygota

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9
Q

what are the three groups insecta are divided into depending on development

A

1) Ametabola = without metamorphosis
- egg –> grow bigger

2) Hemimetabola = half metamorphosis
- egg –>nymph–>adult

3) Holometabola = whole metamorphosis
- egg –> larvae –> adult

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10
Q

what is pterygota under the class insecta split into

A

1) paleoptera
2) Neoptera ( then split into exo/endopterygota)

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11
Q

outline an ametabolous life cycle

A

e.g. silver fish
primativley wingless orders develop into adults by moulting periodically growing in size

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12
Q

outline a hemimetabolous lifecycle

A

e.g. dragon fly
winged insects change gradually by incomplete metamorphosis

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13
Q

outline a holometabolous lifecycle

A

e.g. butterfly
involves a pupal stage and is termed complete metamorphosis

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14
Q

outline the subclass apterygota

A
  • formerly included other primitively wingless insects now in entognatha
  • restricted to two orders = Archaeognatha and zygentoma

= superficial similar but not closley related due to differences in mouthparts

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15
Q

outline the order Archaeognatha aka bristletails under the subclass apterygota

A

primitivley wingless
active and cylindrical around 18mm
long flagellate antennae
most of body covered in flat scales
well developed eye and 3 ocelli

lives in leaflitter/under stones/ seashore feeding on alage/ lichens
courtship rituals

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16
Q

outline the order Zygentoma aka silver fish under the subclass apterygota

A

primitivley wingless
sacvengers
fast runners but do not jump
less cylindrical tapering at rear
dorsoventrally flattened
covering of scales = makes them look shiny
eyes reduced/absent

17
Q

outline the subclass pterygota

A

ancestors of winged insects that evolved in carboniferous period
- some lost wings later

18
Q

why did some ptergytoa lose their wings

A

specialisation
habitat stability

19
Q

what are the two infraclasses of the subclass pterygota

A

1) paleoptera - old wing
2) neoptera - new wing

20
Q

outline the infraclass paleoptera

A

characterised by position of wings at rest
1) unable to fold over abdomen
- ephemeroptera (mayfly) = over head
- odonata- held outstreched (dragon fly) or above abdomen (damael fly)

= hemimetabolous

21
Q

outline characteristics of mayflies aka ephemeroptera

A

two seperate flying stages
1) sexually immature subimago hatches from nymphal stage and flies from water
2) sexualy mater imago

= sexually dimorphic
adults shortlived and non-feeding
larvae aquatic scrapers and keystone species

22
Q

outline characteristics of odonata aka dragonflies and damsel flies

A

large compound eyes, short antenna
2 pairs of wings
bright colours= females more drab
aquatic nymphs
associated with water
aquatic and terrestrial predators

23
Q

outline neoptera

A

split into two groups
1) exopterygota
- young look like adults but externally developing wings
- immature to adult without pupal stage
- nymphs develop gradually into adults before moulting

2) endopterygota
- develop wings inside body
- distinctive larval, pupal and adult stages
- radical metamorphosis with larval and adult stages differing in structure and behaviour