Insect Physiology and Nervous System Overview

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Questions and Answers

What type of resistance occurs when insects change their behavior to avoid exposure to insecticides?

Genetic resistance

Physiological resistance

Behavioral resistance (correct)

Cultural resistance

Which of the following types of insecticidal formulations is a dry powder?

Aerosols

Dewdrops

Dusts (correct)

Liquids

How do invasive species contribute to pest problems?

They cause damage in new environments. (correct)

They offer new food sources for native species.

They reduce the pesticide resistance in native pests.

They contribute positively to the ecosystem.

Which insect is known to damage cotton crops?

Cotton boll weevil Signup and view all the answers

What factor does NOT contribute to the proliferation of insect pests?

Presence of natural predators Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary form of nitrogenous waste excreted by insects to minimize water loss?

Uric acid Signup and view all the answers

Which system is primarily responsible for oxygen diffusion to cells in insects?

Tracheal system Signup and view all the answers

What anatomical feature in aquatic insect larvae functions like a snorkel for respiration?

Siphons Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the insect nervous system is responsible for controlling mouthparts?

Subesophageal ganglion Signup and view all the answers

What type of eye structure do adult insects primarily use for light detection?

Ocelli Signup and view all the answers

What is the main limitation of the insect respiratory system that affects their size?

Inefficient diffusion of gases Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes chemical signals used for communication within the same species of insects?

Pheromones Signup and view all the answers

In an insect's circulatory system, what component serves as the medium for transporting nutrients and immune cells?

Hemolymph Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the primary functions of the insect circulatory system?

Hemolymph distribution Signup and view all the answers

How do insects typically acquire oxygen in aquatic environments?

Via specialized tracheal systems Signup and view all the answers

What strategies can be employed to delay insecticide resistance?

Using integrated pest management techniques Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a key component of integrated pest management (IPM)?

Cultural control methods Signup and view all the answers

What ecological significance does pseudocopulation have in insects?

It promotes genetic diversity through mating behaviors Signup and view all the answers

Which component of the insect nervous system is mainly responsible for processing sensory information?

Subesophageal ganglion Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the role of hair plates in insects?

Detecting vibrations and body position Signup and view all the answers

What are secondary pests in the context of pest management?

Pests that emerge due to disruption of biological control measures Signup and view all the answers

What role does royal jelly play in honey bee colonies?

It determines queen development. Signup and view all the answers

What defines the Economic Threshold (ET) in pest management?

The pest population level requiring control to prevent Economic Injury Level. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the function of worker ants in their colonies?

They forage, care for the queen's larvae, and defend the colony. Signup and view all the answers

Which method of entry for insecticides involves absorption through the plant's vascular system?

Systemic absorption Signup and view all the answers

How does metabolic resistance in insects to insecticides typically develop?

Through alterations in enzyme activity that detoxify chemicals. Signup and view all the answers

What limits the maximum size of terrestrial insects related to their respiratory systems?

Limited oxygen diffusion capacity of tracheal systems. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of the stigma in female organs of a flower?

To receive pollen Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a biological control method in Integrated Pest Management (IPM)?

Introducing natural predators of the pest. Signup and view all the answers

What is Pseudocopulation?

A mating behavior of male wasps with orchids Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the Malpighian tubules in insects?

To excrete nitrogenous waste. Signup and view all the answers

What is Bee Bread primarily composed of?

Fermented pollen and nectar Signup and view all the answers

In which part of the flower is nectar usually found?

Nectaries Signup and view all the answers

What does swarming refer to in honeybee colonies?

A colony splitting into groups Signup and view all the answers

Which type of worker ant is responsible for defending the nest?

Major Workers Signup and view all the answers

What is Bee Milk used for in a honeybee colony?

To differentiate queen and worker larvae Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic feature of coevolution?

Species evolving in response to each other Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary nitrogenous waste excreted by insects?

Uric acid salts Signup and view all the answers

What role do spiracles play in an insect's respiratory system?

They allow air to enter the tracheal system. Signup and view all the answers

Why does the tracheal system limit the size of insects?

Diffusion of oxygen becomes less efficient over longer distances. Signup and view all the answers

In a closed gas exchange system, what do aquatic insects typically use to store oxygen?

Specialized gas storage structures Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following correctly describes the process of excretion in insects?

Water is reabsorbed in the rectum to produce dry feces. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key difference between stationary and transportable systems in aquatic insects?

Stationary systems are fixed in a location, while transportable systems can move. Signup and view all the answers

How does the tracheal system deliver oxygen to individual cells in insects?

Using passive diffusion through tracheoles Signup and view all the answers

What occurs in the Malpighian tubules during the process of excretion?

Nitrogenous waste enters and is concentrated. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Insect Maintenance and Movement (Part II)

Excretion: Uric acid is the primary nitrogenous waste excreted by insects, minimizing water loss.
Malpighian tubules filter hemolymph, and the hindgut processes and excretes waste.
Tracheal System: Spiracles are the entry points, leading to tracheae (tubes) that deliver oxygen directly to tracheoles in tissues.
Aquatic Insect Respiration: Certain aquatic insects use snorkel-like siphons, cuticular respiration, or air bubbles.
Circulatory System: Hemolymph (a fluid) transports nutrients, ions, and immune cells within an open circulatory system with a dorsal blood vessel serving as the primary pump.

Insect Nervous System (Parts I & II)

Subsystems: The insect nervous system includes the central, peripheral, stomatogastric, and sensory subsystems.
Ganglia and Functions: Ganglia in the brain, subesophageal, and thoracic ganglia control mouthparts, limb movement, and sensory input processing.
Mechanoreceptors: Proprioceptors (like hair plates) help with limb positioning and tympanum is for hearing.
Eyes: Compound eyes made of ommatidia provide mosaic vision, while ocelli and stemmata are used for detecting light in larvae.
Chemical Communication: Pheromones allow communication between insects of the same species, while kairomones benefit the receiver and synomones benefit both emitter and receiver.

Sociality Levels: Solitary, subsocial, and eusocial insects are categorized by their levels of social structure and cooperation.
Caste System: Honeybees have a distinct caste system, with reproductive queens, sterile worker females, and male drones.
Ant Behaviors: Some ant species exhibit nomadic behaviors like foraging trails, or slave-making.
Pollination: Ants and other insects play a vital role in pollination in ecosystems.

Insect Pests and Pest Management

Economic Threshold (ET) and Economic Injury Level (EIL): ET is the pest population level that requires control to prevent EIL. EIL is where pest damage equals control cost.
Insecticides: Insecticides are classified into inorganic, microbial, botanical, and synthetic categories based on their composition.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM): IPM combines various control strategies: cultural, biological, mechanical, and chemical.
Resistance Development: Insect populations can develop resistance to insecticides through behavioral, metabolic, and genetic mechanisms.

General Practice Questions

Respiratory System limitations: The tracheal system (reliance on diffusion) restricts the maximum size of terrestrial insects.
Insect Communication: Pheromones are specific to a species, while allelochemicals are used between different species for communication.
Eusocial Insects: These insects exhibit complex social structures with overlapping generations, and cooperative brood care; e.g., bees.
Rachel Carson: Carson's work highlighted the dangers of pesticides. She significantly influenced modern pest management practices.

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Description

This quiz covers key aspects of insect maintenance, including excretion, respiration, and circulatory systems. Explore the intricacies of the insect nervous system, focusing on its subsystems and the role of ganglia in controlling bodily functions. Understand how these systems contribute to the overall physiology of insects.