Thorax

Question 1

What are the tree parts of the thorax?

Answer 1

1. Pro
2. Meso
3. Meta

Question 2

In adults which parts of the thorax have legs?

Answer 2

all three, in adults each part will have a pair of legs

Question 3

What is the dorsal portion of the thorax called?

Answer 3

Pronotum

Question 4

The three pairs of legs each have 6 main segments, what are they and which are the biggest?

Answer 4

1. Coxa
2. Trochanter
3. Femur (biggest)
4. Tibia (biggest)
5. Tarsus
6. Pretarsus

Question 5

What is the pretarsus?

Answer 5

The terminal segment of the tarsus and any other attached strusctures (claws)

Question 6

What can legs be used for (5)?

Answer 6

1. Running
2. Jumping
3. swimming
4. digging
5. Predation

Question 7

Are there insects without legs?

Answer 7

Yes, some immature species of insects lack legs (fly larvae)

Question 8

Talk about caterpillar legs

Answer 8

Usually caterpillars will have 3 pairs of true legs attached to the thorax plus additional paired legs called prolegs that are used for walking and attachment (they have microscopic hooks)

Question 9

2 names for insects that have wings or do not have wings

Answer 9

1. Apterygota (without wings)
2. Pterygota (with wings)

Question 10

Which is more primitive?

Answer 10

Apterygota are more primitive and are orders that never developed wings

Question 11

Are there insects that are Pterygota and do not have wings?

Answer 11

Yes, these are highly specialized insects such as parasites, fleas, and lice. They have lost their wings due to a highly specialized lifestyle and are deemed “secondarily wingless”

Question 12

How many wings do most Pterygota have and where are they located specifically on their thorax?

Answer 12

They have 2 pairs of wings, one located on the mesothorax and the other located on metathorax. Never on the prothorax

Question 13

In terms of wing adaptations, what are the wings like for Elytra?

Answer 13

Orders like coleoptera have hard front wings that serve as protective covers for membranous hind wings

Question 14

In terms of wing adaptations, what are the wings like for Hemelytra?

Answer 14

These front wings are leathery or parchment-like at the base and membranous at the tip. Orders such as Hemiptera

Question 15

In terms of wing adaptations, what are the wings like for Tegmina?

Answer 15

The front wings are completely leathery or parchment like in texture. Orders such as mantodea (praying mantis)

Question 16

In terms of wing adaptations, what are the wings like for Halteres?

Answer 16

They have small club like hind wings that serve as gyroscopic stabilizers during flight. Orders such as Diptera

Question 17

In terms of wing adaptations, what are the wings like for Fringed wings?

Answer 17

They are slender front and hind wings with long fringes of hair. Orders such as Thysanoptera.

Question 18

In terms of wing adaptations, what are the wings like for Scaly wings?

Answer 18

Both front and hind wings are covered in scales (flattened setae). Orders such as Lepidoptera (butterflies)

Question 19

In terms of wing adaptations, what are the wings like for Hamuli?

Answer 19

There are tiny hooks on hind wings that hold front and hind wings together. Orders such as Hymenoptera (bees)

Question 20

Five other adaptations for wings that serve the insect in other ways than flight?

Answer 20

1. Protective covers
2. Thermal collectors
3. Sound producers
4. Visual cues for species recognition and sexual contact
5. Defense against predators

Question 21

In terms of wing structure, how to insects differ from other flying animals?

Answer 21

Their wings are double-layered expansions of the body wall and thusly their wings are covered by the exoskeleton

Question 22

What are the two types of wing muscles?

Answer 22

1. Synchronous
2. Asynchronous

Question 23

How do synchronous muscles work?

Answer 23

Their wings beat at the same frequency, but not necessarily in synchrony. This allows for fine control and mobility

Question 24

How to asynchronous muscles work?

Answer 24

Their wings work asynchronously allowing them to contract faster frequencies. They can enhance lift by producing LEVs (Leading Edge Vortices) in close proximity to the wings resulting in a low pressure region augmenting the force production

Question 25

Describe the anatomy of the wing itself

Answer 25

There are a network of veins that run throughout the wing tissue. The thin interval areas are called cells or vein domains