Lecture 31 Flashcards
cultural entomology
Examine the influence of insects on human societies
what factors are examined in cultural entomology?
o Impact on crops
o Disease transmission
o Products
describe the influence insects had in war
Before DDT invention, soldiers died more of insect related complications than injuries of war
Thyphus transmitted by the human body louse killed many of the soldiers (in Napoleon’s army) Soldiers didn’t have the means to clean themselves & travelling in winter Soldiers would huddle to keep warm & transmit the louse
what insect was heavily involved in genetic discoveries?
drosophila
where do insects become relevant in our culture? (4)
Historical events – wars, plagues, discoveries
Symbolism – religious, political, literary/language
Visual & decorative arts – paintings, jewelry, tattoos, fabric, sculptures
Entertainment – sports, movies, music
describe the legend of the silk moth
Empress Hsi-ling Shih (circa 2640 B.C.) was drinking tea under a mulberry tree
A cocoon fell into her cup & she found a thread of extraordinary texture
She discovered a way to rear the silkworms, reel the silk & use it to make garments
what was the outcome of the invention of silk?
The secret of silk production created a commercial monopoly & was guarded by the Chinese for centuries
Would execute anyone who shared the method
All travelers leaving China were searched at the border
Led to the creation of the world’s longest highway, in 139 B.C known as the silk road
Connected Asia to Europe
what do the silk moths eat?
mulberry
where do the silk moths lay their eggs?
mulberry
1 lb of caterpillars eat ____ tons of leaves
12 tons
what stage is the silk moth in when they produce the silk strand?
pupa
how long is a single strand of silk?
1/2 mile
a silk fiber consists of ______ ______ filaments cemented together
2 fibroin
describe how the moths produce silk & humans harvest it
2 glands on the side of the mouth creating the 2 fibroin filaments
Held together by sericin PRO
Remove the sericin from the fibroin by boiling the cocoons
Fibroin is then spun with multiple strands to make the silk threads
what was the importance of scarab beetles in Egypt?
important in Egyptian mythology
Soldiers would wear them, seen as a protector
morphology - Spines look like sun rays & the sun god was very important to them (warrior appearance)
behaviour - rolling like the sun, 28 days to develop like the moon
metamorphosis - emergence from nothing, symbolized autogenesis & renewal (power & life)
what insect represents resurrection?
Represented by the butterfly
Myth of psyche (goddess of souls) – had butterfly wings
New life connected with butterflies
what insect represents power?
bees
able to fight back & cause pain but provide beneficial materials for their people
“Industry has its sure rewards” - represented by what?
Bee hive – bees working all the time & successful
Souls of the newly departed represented by ____
fireflies
what insect represents luck?
ladybeetle
what do flies represent?
brevity of life (death), decay, sin, corruption
how were flies used in 15th-century art?
Fly painted on after the painting was finished to indicate that the person in the painting died
Trompe l’oeil (trick the eye) showing talent of artist
Painting a fly so realistic that people would try to move the fly away
how were insects used in 17th-century art?
still life with insects
what period of art were the most insect orders represented?
17th-century
