Module 02: The Business of Being an Insect Pt 1 Flashcards

1
Q

what are ventral plates of an insect called?

A

sternum (each individually)

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2
Q

what are dorsal plates of an insect called?

A

tergum (each individually)

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3
Q

what are lateral plates of an insect called?

A

pleuron (each individually)

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4
Q

what are the tergum also called on the thoracic region?

A

notum (each individually)

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5
Q

What are the purposes of antennae?

A

register/detect:
smells + tastes
movement
moisture
air currents
vibrations
heat
can also estimate flight speed

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6
Q

what are the two types of photoreceptors found on insect heads?

A

pair of compound eyes
up to three ocelli

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7
Q

what are compound eyes made up of

A

multiple smaller ommatidia which capture individual images which are combined into one cohesive image

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8
Q

what are ommatidia? describe their structure

A

smaller parts making up compound eyes
contain lens + cone which focus light onto photoreceptor and pigment cells

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9
Q

what is the purpose of pigment cells?

A

adapt the photosensitivity of light to changing light conditions, adjust the amount of light entering the ommatidium

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10
Q

describe the structure of ocelli

A

transparent cuticle curved into a lens which focuses light onto a retina made of sensory cells

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11
Q

describe the purpose of the ocelli

A

usually not strong enough to pick up focused images
usually used to detect polarized light or changing light intensity

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12
Q

what are the four main structures f the mouthparts

A

labrum
mandibles
maxillae
labium

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13
Q

describe the labrum

A

outermost structure of mouthparts
cover that protects the other structures

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14
Q

describe the mandibles

A

posterior to labrum
used to cut, tear, and crush food, also as tools or weapons
armed with powerful muscles

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15
Q

describe the maxillae

A

posterior to mandibles
can assist in function of mandibles
used to position food closer to mandibles
palps on maxillae (and labium) allow insects to smell and taste food

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16
Q

describe the labium

A

ventral to maxillae
used along with maxillae to manipulate food
palps on labium (and maxillae) allow insects to smell and taste food

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17
Q

describe the palps

A

sensory structures found on the maxillae and labium that allow insects to smell and taste food
(maxillary palps, labial palps)

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18
Q

what are the four types of mouthparts used for liquid food?

A

piercing sucking mouthparts
siphoning mouthparts
sponging mouthparts
chewing-lapping mouthparts

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19
Q

describe piercing-sucking mouthparts

A

used to pierce animal/plant tissues and access fluids within
salivary glands produce secretions to help eat and digest food
paired with muscular sucking pumps in head

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20
Q

what species have piercing-sucking mouthparts?

A

all hemipterans
fleas
many diptera

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21
Q

describe siphoning mouthparts

A

use a proboscis to siphon liquids
proboscis - highly modified maxillae

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22
Q

what species have siphoning mouthparts?

A

only lepidoptera

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23
Q

describe sponging mouthparts

A

use a labellum covered in tiny grooves to uptake food by capillary action
some species have both cutting and sponging mouthparts

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24
Q

what species have sponging mouthparts?

A

some dipterans

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25
Q

describe chewing-lapping mouthparts

A

‘tongue’ used to feed on nectar
paired with mandibles used for construction, defense, and cutting through flower bases to get to nectar

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26
Q

what species use chewing-lapping mouthparts?

A

only bees

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27
Q

what are the three segments of the thorax

A

(head)
prothorax
mesothorax
metathorax
(abdomen)

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28
Q

where are the legs and wings found on an insect?

A

all on thorax
prothorax, mesothorax, metathorax each have one pair of legs
wings are only found on mesothorax and metathorax

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29
Q

how many segments are on the abdomen?

A

amount varies
older species have more, more derived species have less

30
Q

what are cerci

A

sensory appendages often found near posterior end of abdomen

31
Q

what is the single tube of the insect digestive system called?

A

alimentary canal

32
Q

how does the structure of the alimentary canal differ for different insects based on the type of food they eat? include explanation

A

solid food = wide, short, straight
liquid food = long, narrow, convoluted
- maximizes surface area in contact with liquid

33
Q

how does the alimentary canal differ between insects who animals and insects who eat plants? explain.

A

plant feeding insects - eat high quantities of nutrient poor food so they have little need for high storage capacity -> short alimentary canal
animal feeding insects - eat lower quantities of more nutrient rich food with limited availability - need a high storage capacity -> long alimentary canal

34
Q

what additional characteristics do solid and liquid food eating insects have to help them digest their specific food type?

A

solid food eaters - inner cavity is lined with strong muscles and specialized membranes for protection
liquid food eaters - mechanisms to remove excess water and concentrate nutrients

35
Q

what are the three regions of the digestive system?

A

foregut
midgut
hindgut

36
Q

what is the main purpose of the foregut?

A

food is ingested and physically broken down here
can also have some temporary food storage

37
Q

what is the main purpose of the midgut?

A

digestion and absorption of nutrients

38
Q

what is the main purpose of the hindgut?

A

absorption of water, salts, and remaining nutrients

39
Q

what happens in the pharynx? where is it located?

A

food becomes a bolus
right after mouth in foregut

40
Q

what happens in the crop? where is it located?

A

can be used for temporary food storage
foregut, after esophagus

41
Q

what is the proventriculus? where is it located?

A

structure in alimentary canal where food is broken down further by cuticular teeth
found at furthest end of foregut, next to midgut

42
Q

what are the gastric caeca? where are they located?

A

out pockets that increase surface area to maximize nutrient absorption
found at anterior end of midgut, next to proventriculus

43
Q

what is the peritrophic membrane? where is it located?

A

membrane that protects midgut from damage and is excreted with food
found in midgut

44
Q

what are the malphigian tubules?

A

tubules that remove waste products and maintain osmoregulation in posterior end of midgut

45
Q

which parts of the alimentary canal have cuticular lining?

A

foregut and hindgut

46
Q

what is the term for insect excretion?

A

frass
waste released in highly concentrated uric acid

47
Q

what are symbionts? what are some of their functions?

A

beneficial microorganisms hosted by an insect’s body
- help digest food, produce essential vitamins, detoxify poisons in alimentary canal

48
Q

how does and insect get symbionts?

A

passed from insect to insect from ingestion
or passed down through vertical transmission or transovarial transmission

49
Q

what is osmoregulation?

A

process by which insects maintain the balance between fluids and electrolytes in their bodies to prevent drying out

50
Q

what is the fat body?

A

network of fatty tissue outside alimentary canal
metabolizes large macromolecules
essential for storage of nutrients

51
Q

what is hemolymph? what are its two main components?

A

insect equivalent of blood
liquid plasma and hemocytes

52
Q

what does plasma do in hemolymph?

A

mediates chemical exchanges between tissues
doesn’t transport oxygen to tissues like blood does - no oxygen carrying pigments

53
Q

what do hemocytes do in hemolymph?

A

main component of immune system
some ingest foreign particles / microorganisms / dead cells
others work together to encapsulate parasites
coagulate to heal + protect injuries

54
Q

what is the hemocoel?

A

main body cavity which contains hemolymph + organs

55
Q

what is trehalose?

A

main blood sugar found in insects

56
Q

where is the main vessel for hemolymph transfer located?

A

along dorsal side of body

57
Q

what is the purpose of the dorsal and ventral diaphragms?

A

direct flow of hemolymph

58
Q

what are ostia?

A

valves on dorsal vessel of insects which hemolymph goes into (one-way)

59
Q

how does hemolymph get into appendages off of an insect’s body?

A

pumps at bases of appendages move hemolymph in and out of them

60
Q

how does the demand for oxygen within a certain tissue impact the structure of the gas exchange system in that area?

A

higher demand for oxygen = more tracheoles

61
Q

how does air enter an insect’s body?

A

holes called spiracles on edge of trachea connect to outside world
can have filters and valves that open only for gas exchange to prevent entry of bad microorganisms/particles and water loss

62
Q

where are spiracles typically located?

A

laterally along thorax and abdomen

63
Q

how do the activity levels and size of an insect impact the volume of its gas exchange system

A

more active -> more body volume is taken up by the gas exchange system
larger -> more body volume has to be taken up by the gas exchange system

64
Q

what is the purposes of air sacs?

A

act as reservoirs
aid in sound production
can be compressed to make room for growth pre-mold

65
Q

what is an open tracheal system? which insects have this?

A

when spiracles connect trachea to external environment
generally had by terrestrial insects

66
Q

what is an closed tracheal system? which insects have this?

A

no spiracles
gas is exchanged through cuticle, which may be thinner in some areas
had by some aquatic insects + parasitic larvae
some have gills

67
Q

what do gills look like on insects?

A

leaflike body extensions covered with a thin layer of cuticle and containing a network of trachea
found in some aquatic insects + parasitic larvae with closed tracheal systems

68
Q

true or false: water vapor is released in gas exchange

A

true

69
Q

in what three schedules can spiracles be left open?

A

continuously
cyclically
discontinuously

70
Q

what two factors determine an insect’s rate of gas exchange?

A

diameter of trachea
distance of diffusion (more important)

71
Q

how do large insects keep distances between their spiracles and body tissues short?

A

long thin body plans help do this!!