Insect Biology Terms PDF

Terms: Here are brief definitions of the terms listed: 1. Ant colony optimization: A computational algorithm inspired by the foraging behavior of ants to solve optimization problems. 2. Bee bread: A fermented mixture of pollen and nectar that serves as food for bee larvae. 3...

Terms: Here are brief definitions of the terms listed: 1. Ant colony optimization: A computational algorithm inspired by the foraging behavior of ants to solve optimization problems. 2. Bee bread: A fermented mixture of pollen and nectar that serves as food for bee larvae. 3. Bioink: Ink used in 3D printing that is made from biological materials, often for medical applications. 4. Boll weevil: A pest of cotton plants that feeds on cotton bolls, significantly affecting cotton farming. 5. Bombyx mori: The silkworm, used for commercial silk production. 6. Caste: A division of labor in eusocial insect societies, such as workers, queens, and drones. 7. Chinese tongue amulet: A cultural artifact associated with the belief that cicadas could ward off evil. 8. Cicadas: Insects known for their loud mating calls, with some species emerging in periodic cycles. 9. Cotton boll: The protective covering that holds cotton fibers, often targeted by pests like the boll weevil. 10. Cultural entomology: The study of the relationship between humans and insects in different cultures. 11. Degumming: The process of removing sericin from silkworm silk fibers to make them usable for textile production. 12. Diabolical Ironclad Beetle: A beetle known for its incredibly tough exoskeleton. 13. Ecdysis: The process of shedding the exoskeleton (molting) in arthropods as they grow. 14. Entomophagy: The practice of eating insects. 15. Eusocial: A form of social organization where individuals of a species cooperate in care of offspring, division of labor, and often have overlapping generations. 16. Fibroin: A protein that makes up the main structure of silk fibers. 17. Fire ants: An aggressive species of ant known for their painful sting and tendency to form large colonies. 18. Forensic entomology: The use of insect evidence to estimate the time of death in criminal investigations. 19. Fruit fly: A model organism in genetics and biology, commonly used in experiments. 20. Glassworms: Larvae of certain species of midges, often studied in aquatic ecosystems. 21. Honeypot ants: Ants that store nectar in their bodies for other ants to consume later. 22. Insect cognition: The study of how insects process information and make decisions. 23. Insect sentience: The idea that insects may have the capacity for conscious experience or feelings. 24. Kunga cake: A type of food used in some African cultures, believed to be composed of insect-based protein. 25. Leaf-cutting ants: Ants that cut leaves to cultivate fungi, which they use as food. 26. Model organism: A species extensively studied to understand biological processes.  27. Mutation: A change in the DNA sequence of an organism's genome. 28. Necrophage: Organisms, often insects, that feed on dead bodies. 29. Periodic cicadas: Cicadas that emerge in large numbers at regular intervals, typically 13 or 17 years. 30. Phantom midges: Tiny aquatic insects that can be found in large swarms. 31. Pheromones: Chemical signals used by animals, including insects, to communicate with others of the same species. 32. Rostrum: An elongated mouthpart found in some insects, such as weevils. 33. Royal jelly: A secretion produced by worker bees that is fed to the queen larvae, ensuring they become queens. 34. Scarab: A type of beetle, often regarded as sacred in ancient Egyptian culture. 35. Sericin: A protein produced by silkworms that holds the silk fibers together before they are processed. 36. Sex chromosome: Chromosomes that determine an individual's sex (X and Y chromosomes in many species). 37. Silk duct: The tube through which silk proteins pass from the silkworm's glands to be spun into fibers. 38. Silk gland: The gland in silkworms responsible for producing silk fibers. 39. Spermatheca: An organ in female insects where sperm is stored after mating. 40. Spinneret: The structure in some insects, such as silkworms, that secretes silk. 41. Stages of composition: The process of creating silk, including spinning and weaving. 42. Sternal gland: A gland in some insects that produces chemicals used for communication or defense. 43. Stridulation: The act of producing sound by rubbing body parts together, common in insects like crickets. 44. Swarm intelligence: The collective behavior of decentralized, self-organized systems, such as insect colonies. 45. Trophallaxis: The transfer of food or other fluids between individuals of a colony, typically seen in ants and bees. 46. Tropical deforestation: The loss of forests in tropical regions, which often impacts insect populations. 47. Tymbals: Structures used by insects like cicadas to produce sound. 48. Varroa destructor: A parasitic mite that attacks honeybees and is a major threat to beekeeping. 49. Waggle dance: A behavior performed by honeybees to communicate the direction and distance to a food source. Study Questions: 1. Main parts of the insect body structure: ○ Head: Contains sensory organs (antennae, compound eyes) and mouthparts. ○ Thorax: Houses the legs and wings (if present). Divided into prothorax, mesothorax, and metathorax. ○ Abdomen: Contains digestive, reproductive, and excretory organs. ○ Appendages: Includes antennae, legs, wings (if present), and mouthparts (mandibles, proboscis, etc.). 2. Simple vs. Complete Metamorphosis: ○ Simple metamorphosis (Hemimetabolous): Involves three stages—egg, nymph (immature form), and adult (e.g., grasshoppers). ○ Complete metamorphosis (Holometabolous): Involves four stages—egg, larva, pupa, and adult (e.g., butterflies, beetles). 3. Castes and Social Insects: ○ Leaf-cutter ants, aphid-farming ants, honeybees, and termites all have distinct castes (e.g., workers, queens, soldiers) that specialize in different tasks to ensure the colony’s survival. ○ In leaf-cutter ants, workers cut leaves to feed a fungal crop, while soldiers defend the colony. The division of labor within castes increases efficiency and survival. ○ Ants were initially viewed as individual creatures with little societal structure. By the 20th century, they were seen as a model for understanding social behavior, influencing studies in human organization and technology (e.g., swarm intelligence algorithms). 4. Forensic Entomology: ○ Insects like blowflies (Calliphoridae) and flesh flies (Sarcophagidae) are critical in estimating time of death through their developmental stages on a body. ○ Factors such as temperature, humidity, and geographical location influence insect development and thus the time of death estimation. ○ Limitations include the availability of insect species at the crime scene, environmental conditions, and the stage of decomposition. 5. Silk Production: ○Silk is produced by Bombyx mori (silkworm) larvae, which secrete a fluid from their silk glands that hardens to form silk fibers. ○ The fibers consist of fibroin, with sericin acting as a glue that holds them together. ○ Engineers are interested in the Diabolical Ironclad Beetle due to its strong exoskeleton, which may inspire new materials. ○ Drosophila melanogaster is used in genetic experiments due to its short lifespan, ease of breeding, and well-understood genome. In some African countries, promoting Drosophila research helps develop better pest control strategies. 6. Entomophagy: ○ Benefits include high nutritional value (proteins, fats, vitamins), sustainability, and a lower environmental footprint compared to traditional livestock farming. ○ Challenges include cultural resistance, health risks, and scalability of insect farming. ○ An alternative is plant-based proteins, which are also environmentally friendly.  7. Insects in Art and Culture: ○ Insects, like cicadas, were symbolic in various cultures (e.g., Chinese symbolism for immortality). ○ Sound production in insects, like stridulation in crickets, has influenced music, particularly in the use of natural sounds in compositions and cultural music. These responses provide a foundation for understanding the core concepts of entomology and how insects influence various aspects of life.