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Bugs 101: Insect-Human Interactions > Module 01: Intro to Insects and Their Terrestrial Relatives > Flashcards

Module 01: Intro to Insects and Their Terrestrial Relatives Flashcards

1
Q

What are the characteristics of vertebrates?

A

internal endoskeletons
spinal column made of vertebrae which provides support and allows them to be big

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2
Q

what are the characteristics of intertebrates?

A

supported by structures outside their bodies
some have hard outer exoskeletons

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3
Q

What are arthropods?

A

organisms with jointed feet or appendages (like antennae, mouth parts, reproductive organs)
(arthron- means joint, -podos means foot)
includes crabs, spiders, scorpions, insects, etc.

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4
Q

How many known species of arthropods are there? What percentage of names species are they?

A

1.2 million known species
60% of all named organisms

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5
Q

What five characteristics make up the common body plan of arthropods?

A

bilateral symmetry
segmented body
ventral nerve cord
dorsal blood vessel
exoskeleton

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6
Q

What is bilateral symmetry? How does it compare to radial symmetry?

A

characteristic of arthropods
symmetry only along the anterior posterior axis
organisms with radial symmetry can be divided into 2 similar halves by any plane passing through their center

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7
Q

What are the three axis that are important to know when studying the morphology of organisms with bilateral symmetry?

A

anterior posterior axis - front to back
dorsal ventral axis - top to bottom
lateral axis - side to side

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8
Q

How does the ventral nerve cord of arthropods differ from those of vertebrates?

A

vertebrates have dorsal nerve cords
arthropods’ nerve cords are not protected by a spinal column

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9
Q

How does the open circulatory system of arthropods differ from those of vertebrates?

A

arthropods do not have a network of blood vessels, just a large dorsal blood vessel with openings on either end

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10
Q

What are the two main parts of the exoskeleton?

A

cuticle and epidermis

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11
Q

What are the parts of the cuticle?

A

waxy epicuticle
exocuticle
endocuticle

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12
Q

How is the exoskeleton both hard and flexible to allow movement?

A

exocuticle is hardened
endocuticle is unhardened, pliable, and stretchy
cuticle is selectively hardened

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13
Q

What is the purpose of the waxy epicuticle?

A

prevents water loss + acts as barrier against disease causing pathogens

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14
Q

What is the process by which the exocuticle is hardened?

A

tanning
process by which proteins are crosslinked in sclerotization
can also be caused by mineralization + calcification

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15
Q

What are tagmata?

A

fused regions of an arthropod’s segmented body which have specific functions

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16
Q

What differentiates the cuticle and epidermis?

A

cuticle is external nonliving structure
epidermis is a living cellular layer that secretes the cuticle

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17
Q

What is the cuticle made of?

A

chitin + protein

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18
Q

What is the basement membrane?

A

thin tissue separating epidermis from body cavity

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19
Q

What are three purposes of the exoskeleton in general?

A

protection
support for internal organs
internal ridges provide spots for muscle attachment

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20
Q

What is the major disadvantage of exoskeletons? What process does this disadvantage require to take place?

A

limits growth
means that arthropods need to molt (shed old exoskeleton and replace it with a new one)

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21
Q

What is step 1 of the molting process?

A

apolysis
old cuticle separates from epidermis
ecdysteroid molting hormones from prothoracic glands cause epidermal cells to replicate

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22
Q

What is apolysis?

A

process by which old cuticle separates from epidermis in molting
ecdysteroid molting hormones from prothoracic glands cause epidermal cells to replicate

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23
Q

What is the purpose of ecdysteroid molting hormones? Where do they come from?

A

cause apolysis
come from prothoracic glands

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24
Q

What is step 2 of the molting process?

A

digestive fluids flow between cuticle and epidermis and break down endocuticle into metabolites which are absorbed by epidermis

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25
What is step 3 of the molting process?
epidermal cells secrete new cuticle
26
What is step 4 of the molting process?
ecdysis - old cuticle is cast off
27
What is ecdysis?
process in molting by which old cuticle is cast off
28
What does the arthropod do while its cuticle is soft after molting?
contracts muscles + swallows air or water to increase internal fluid pressure and body volume -> stretch the cuticle to allow for growth
29
when did the first arthropods appear in the fossil record?
cambrian period 520+ million years ago
30
What are trilobites?
dominant arthropod group in camprian through permian periods spine exoskeletons for defense lived in marine environments
31
When did the earliest terrestrial fossils appear in the fossil record? what is notable about them?
silurian period (440-420 million years ago) they were arthropods!
32
Why were arthropods well suited to be the first species to become terrestrial?
stiff exoskeletons and jointed appendages provide support against gravity, protection from drying out, and a good means of movement
33
how old is the oldest insect fossil?
400 million years
34
in what two forms are insect fossils found?
imprints in rock encased in amber
35
what is phylogeny?
evolutionary history of related organisms
36
what is taxonomy?
classification system used to define, name, and group organisms
37
rank the taxonomic categories in order of increasing specificity
domain kingdom phylum class order family genus species
38
What are four subphylums of the phylum arthropoda?
Chelicerata Myriapoda crustacea hexapoda
39
what is the kingdom, phylum, and subphylum of insects?
kingdom = animalia phylum = arthropoda subplylum = hexapoda
40
What are some examples of species belonging to the subphylum cheicerata?
horseshoe crabs scorpions spiders ticks mites (very diverse ecological roles!)
41
What are some examples of species belonging to the subphylum myriapoda?
millipedes centipedes
42
What are some examples of species belonging to the subphylum crustacea?
crabs, lobsters, some isopods
43
What are some examples of species belonging to the subphylum hexapoda?
includes insects!!
44
what is pancrustacea?
includes crustacea and hexapoda implies that they have a closer evolutionary relationship than the other subphylums of the arthropoda phylum
45
how many tagmata do chelicerata have?
2
46
how many tagmata do myriapoda have?
2
47
how many tagmata do hexapoda have?
3
48
How many pairs of legs do chelicerata have?
4
49
How many pairs of legs do myriapoda have?
8+
50
How many pairs of legs do hexapoda have?
3
51
how many pairs of antennae do chelicerata have?
0
52
how many pairs of antennae do myriapoda have?
1
53
how many pairs of antennae do hexapoda have?
1
54
do chelicerata have wings?
no
55
do myriapoda have wings?
no
56
do hexapoda have wings?
only insects can have winds
57
what are the tagmata of chelicerata?
cephalothorax abdomen
58
what are the tagmata of myriapoda?
head trunk
59
what are the tagmata of hexapoda?
head thorax abdomen
60
What differentiates non-insect hexapods and insects?
non-insect hexapods have enthognathous mouthparts insects have extognathous mouthparts
61
what are enthognathous mouthparts
lie in a cavity within the hear non-insect hexapods have them
62
what are ectognathous mouthparts?
external to head, not enclosed insects have them
63
why are modern day insects smaller than those in the past?
restricted by lower oxygen content in atmosphere in order for gas to be properly distributed by tracheal system, tubes must be smaller overall so insect must be smaller
64
describe the tracheal system
air enters an insect's body through tiny tubes called trachea which branch off into smaller tubes called tracheoles
65
name 6 benefits of a small body size
01. minimizes resource requirements 02. allows use of microhabitats 03. rapid evolution due to short generation times 04. ability to absorb heat quickly 05. muscular action is efficient 06. can take advantage of passive dispersal
66
name 3 cons of a small body size
01. increased risk of being eaten 02. increased vulnerability to damage from natural sources 03. increased risk of water loss from evaporation
67
how is the ratio between insects' surface area and volume both a pro and a con for their small body size
large surface area to volume ratio + can absorb heat quickly - increased risk of water loss
68
How do insects sense their environment under a hard exoskeleton?
sensilla are used to perceive environment and transmit signals to central nervous system
69
what is the purpose of metamorphosis?
allows specialization at different life stages (juveniles focus on feeding and growing, adults focus on dispersing and reproducing)
70
What does it mean when an insect is ametabolous?
doesn't undergo metamorphosis juveniles are just smaller adults without functional reproductive structures
71
What other characteristic do all ametabolous insects share?
apterygotes (have no wings)
72
What is an apterygote?
insect with no wings also ametabolous - no metamorphosis
73
What are the juveniles of insects that undergo incomplete metamorphosis called?
nymphs
74
what is a hemimetabolic insect?
go through incomplete metamorphosis
75
what other characteristic to all hemimetabolic insects share?
exopterygotes - winds develop externally in juvenile stages
76
what is an exopterygote?
insect whose wings develop internally in juvenile stages also hemimetabolic - incomplete metamorphosis
77
What is a holometabolic insect?
undergoes complete metamorphosis
78
what is a pupa?
dormant transitional phase between juvenile and adult forms for holometabolic insects
79
what is a cocoon
hard case that a juvenile is inside for the pupa stage of some holometabolic insects
80
what is a puparium
pupa that develops within exoskeleton and is hard
81
what is eclosion
process by which the adult holometabolous insect emerges from the pupa also process by which a larva hatches from an egg
82
what are juveniles of holometabolic insects called?
larvae
83
what is an endopterygote
wing development occurs inside body from imaginal discs
84
what other characteristic to all holometabolic insects share?
endopterygotes - wing development occurs inside body from cells called imaginal discs
85
what is the juvenile hormone?
hormone that inhibits development of adult characteristics
86
how do levels of the juvenile hormone before transitioning to the adult stage differ in holometabolous and hemimetabolous insects?
holometabolous - before molting into pupal stage, levels of JH are reduced hemimetabolous - before molting into an adult, JH is completely absent
87
What is the alternative function of the juvenile hormone?
also helps with reproduction in adult females
88
what is diapause
similar to hibernation developmental process is slowed by unfavorable conditions development/reproduction stops, metabolisim slows down started and ended by specific conditions
89
what are the benefits of flight?
improves access to resources and mates
90
how does the use of flight impact insects' need for sensory perception?
flight -> high mobility -> need advanced sensory perception to interpret environment while in motion
91
what four characteristics of insects cause their success?
small size metamorphosis dispersal (flight) reproductive capabilities
92
what is insecta
class within hexapoda which all insects are in
93
what major orders undergo incomplete metamorphosis
odonata blattodea orthoptera hemiptera
94
describe odonata
contains dragonflies and damselflies incomplete metamorphosis one of oldest orders long abdomens, small antennae, large eyes, four wings that can't be folded flat over abdomen juveniles are called naiads and are aquatic / semi-aquatic
95
what are naiads
juveniles of odonata order aquatic or semi-aquatic
96
describe blattodea
cockroaches and termites incomplete metamorphosis many species have symbiotic relationships with microbes in their guts -> can eat a lot of things termites are eusocial - highest level of colonial organization cockroaches: long thin legs for funning dorsoventrally flattened leathery protective forewings can fold wings flat over body hide in daytime + feed at night termites: important for nutrient cycling in environment
97
describe orthoptera
grasshoppers, crickets, katydids incomplete metamorphosis juveniles closely resemble adults leathery protective forewings well developed thorax with flight muscles hind legs modified for jumping elaborate courtship behaviors
98
describe hemiptera
true bugs and their relatives incomplete metamorphosis hemiptera means half wing - some species have half-hardened forewings piercing-sucking mouthparts important agricultural/medical pests
99
what major insect orders undergo complete metamorphosis
coleoptera hymenoptera diptera lepidoptera
100
describe coleoptera
beetles complete metamorphosis have elytra - hardened forewings that protect hind wings mostly used for flight species that eat decaying material closely associated with host plants species that eat fungi help it move from plant to plant commonly predators some are important agricultural and forest pests, others help control weed and pest insect populations
101
what are elytra
sclerotized forewings that protect hind wings which are mostly used for flight (sclerotized - hardened by conversion into sclerotin) had by coleoptera (beetles)
102
describe hymenoptera
ants, wasps, bees, sawflies complete metamorphosis sex determined by number of sets of chromosomes (haplodiploidy) many exhibit well developed social behavior can have defense mechanisms - stingers, spraying defensive chemicals
103
describe diptera
true flies complete metamorphosis have only one pair of membranous wings as adults - hind wings are modified into halteres - act as gyroscopes to guide flight species with carrion feeding larvae help cycle nutrients adults eat mainly liquids can be important pollinators or disease spreaders can be important agricultural pests as larvae
104
what are halteres
found in diptera (true flies) hind wings are modified into these structures, which act as gyroscopes to guide flight
105
describe lepidoptera
moths and butterflies complete metamorphosis diversified along with flowering plants wings covered by scales, which are modified flattened hairs mostly feed with a proboscis which allows them to pump up liquid and coils up under head when not feeding can be important pollinators can be considered agricultural, horticultural, forest pests as larvae
106
what is a proboscis??
structure on lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) used to pump up liquids coils up under head when not feeding

Bugs 101: Insect-Human Interactions (3 decks)

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