Insect Biology Q&A PDF

1. Order Blattodea - Cockroaches Describe the body shape and structure of Oval, dorso-ventrally flattened body , Pronotum is a Blattodea well developed sclerite and it extends partly over the...

1. Order Blattodea - Cockroaches Describe the body shape and structure of Oval, dorso-ventrally flattened body , Pronotum is a Blattodea well developed sclerite and it extends partly over the head What type of mouthparts do Blattodea have Biting and chewing (mandibulate) mouthparts How many pairs of wings do Blattodea usually Two pairs of wings have and what are their characteristics Fore-wings are sclerotized and form tegmina Hindwings are membranous How are the wings of Blattodea positioned when at Left wings are folded over right wings rest Describe the antennae of Blattodea. Filiform and very long What type of metamorphosis do Blattodea exhibit? Incomplete metamorphosis (Hemimetabolous development) How do female Blattodea lay their eggs? In an ootheca (egg case) Describe the appearance of nymphs in Blattodea. Similar to adults except for the absence of wings 2. Order Thysanura - Silver fish What is a notable feature of Thysanura (silverfish) Wingless regarding wings Describe the antennae of silverfish Long and filiform What is the body shape of silverfish Carrot-shaped (spindle-shaped) What type of mouthparts do silverfish have Biting and chewing type What are the three characteristic tail-like Two lateral appendages (cerci) and one middle appendages of silverfish appendage (caudal filament) What short appendages might be present on the Two pairs of styli abdomen of silverfish What type of life cycle do silverfish have Ametabolous life cycle ( little or no metamorphosis) When are silverfish mostly active Nocturnal  3. Order Orthoptera - Grasshoppers , locusts What is a key characteristic of Orthoptera hind legs Enlarged for jumping ow many pairs of wings do Orthoptera have, and Two pairs of wings, Forewings narrower, hardened or what are their characteristics leathery (tegmina), Hind wings membranous, folded fan-like under forewings What type of mouthparts do Orthoptera possess Mandibulate (biting and chewing) Describe the antennae of Orthoptera Can be short to very long, Grasshoppers have relatively short antennae, Crickets and katydids generally have long antennae What is the purpose of sound production in male To attract females Orthoptera What type of metamorphosis do Orthoptera Incomplete metamorphosis (hemimetabolous) undergo How do young Orthoptera (nymphs) differ from Nymphs resemble adults but lack wings adults When are most Orthoptera active, and what do they Active during the day, Feeding on vegetation feed on How can Orthoptera affect agriculture They may damage crops 4. Order Coleoptera - Beetles , Weevils How many pairs of wings do Coleoptera have Two pairs of wings Describe the forewings of Coleoptera Hardened (well-sclerotized) to form elytra Two elytra meet along the mid-dorsal suture Elytra may completely or partly cover the abdomen Describe the hindwings of Coleoptera. Membranous Used for flight Kept folded under the elytra when at rest What type of mouthparts do Coleoptera have Mandibulate mouthparts for biting and chewing What is difference between the mouthparts of Weevil has a rostrum in mouthparts while beetle has beetle and weevil not What type of metamorphosis do Coleoptera Complete metamorphosis (holometabolous undergo development) What are the life stages of Coleoptera Egg, larva, pupa, adult Describe the scarabeiform larva of Coleoptera Grub-like (C-shaped) Well-defined head capsule (may be highly sclerotized) Short antennae Chewing mouthparts Legs may be present or absent Describe the campodeiform larva of Coleoptera Dorso-ventrally flattened Three pairs of thoracic legs Well-sclerotized head Describe the eruciform larva of Coleoptera. Laterally flattened Three pairs of thoracic legs How do some species of Coleoptera lack hindwings Their elytra are fused together How do Coleoptera larvae attain the pupal stage Through successive molts What role do the elytra play in Coleoptera Protect the membranous hindwings May completely or partly cover the abdomen 5. Order Hymenoptera - Bees , wasps , ants, saw flies What is the main characteristic of the body Body constricted between mesosoma and metasoma structure in Hymenoptera What forms the mesosoma in Hymenoptera Thorax and the first abdominal segment (propodeum) What forms the metasoma in Hymenoptera Second abdominal segment to the last abdominal segment How many pairs of wings do most Hymenoptera Two pairs of membranous wings have Which Hymenoptera may be wingless Some female wasps and worker ants Describe the forewings and hindwings in Forewings larger than hindwings Hymenoptera. Hamuli on anterior margin of hindwings assist in wing-coupling during flight What type of mouthparts do ants and some wasps Biting and chewing (mandibulate) have What type of mouthparts do bees have? Chewing and lapping type What is a notable feature of the antennae in Geniculate type Hymenoptera May be clubbed in ants Describe the eyes of Hymenoptera. Compound eyes, usually large What is a common feature of female Hymenoptera Well-developed ovipositor, may be modified for sawing, piercing, or stinging How are the thoracic legs of bees modified Modified for pollen collection What are the two suborders of Hymenoptera Apocrita , Symphyta What includes in Apocrite Ants , Bees and Wasps What is the distinct feature of Aprocrita Distinct constriction / waist What includes in Symphyta Saw flies What is the distinct feature of Aprocrita No distinct constriction / waist What is the life cycle of Hymenoptera Complete metamorphosis (holometabolous development) How do some female Hymenoptera lay eggs Parthenogenesis without mating How do some female Hymenoptera fertilize their Store sperm after mating eggs What role do worker caste play in social insects like Provide food for developing larvae ants and bees Describe the larvae of Hymenoptera. Vary in body shape and size Most are grub-like (soft-bodied) with no legs (apodous) Well-sclerotized head present What do adult bees feed on Nectar of flowers Larvae mainly fed with pollen What do adult wasps primarily feed on Nectar and honeydew What are the feeding habits of some Hymenoptera Search out invertebrate hosts to lay their eggs species that are predators or parasites 6. Order Lepidoptera - Butterfly , Moth How many pairs of wings do Lepidoptera typically Two pairs of membranous wings covered with tiny have, and what is unique about them scales Describe the mouthparts of Lepidoptera. Form a coiled proboscis (sucking type mouthparts) What type of eyes do Lepidoptera possess Large compound eyes What is the proboscis made of in Lepidoptera Galea on each side is narrow, elongated, and kept together to form the proboscis What is present above each eye in Lepidoptera An ocellus Describe the antennae in female and male moths Female moths: Long and slender Male moths: Generally plumose How do butterfly antennae differ from moth Butterflies have clubbed antennae antennae What type of metamorphosis do moths and Complete metamorphosis butterflies undergo What are the four life stages of Lepidoptera Egg, caterpillar (larva), pupa, and adult Where do female Lepidoptera lay their eggs On or close to the caterpillar's food plant, either singly or in groups When are moths typically active Mostly nocturnal, attracted to lights at night, or resting camouflaged during the day What do most larvae of moths and butterflies feed Plant parts including flowers, seeds, leaves, fruit, on bark, wood, and roots; some are carnivorous Describe the typical features of Lepidoptera larvae Sclerotized head (caterpillars) Biting and chewing (mandibulate) mouthparts Three pairs of thoracic legs Short, unsegmented prolegs (five pairs) on the abdomen 7. Order Diptera - Flies , Mosquitoes What are the three suborders of Diptera Nematocera Brachycera Cyclorrhapha Describe the antennae types in Nematocera, Nematocera: Plumose and pilose antennae Brachycera, and Cyclorrhapha. Brachycera: Stylet type antennae Cyclorrhapha: Arista type antennae What type of mouthparts does Nematocera have? Piercing and sucking mouthparts What type of mouthparts does Brachycera have Cutting and sponging mouthparts What type of mouthparts does Cyclorrhapha have? Sponging mouthparts What is a unique feature of Diptera that A single pair of membranous wings (forewings) and a distinguishes them from other insects? pair of knob-like structures called halteres What is the function of halteres in Diptera? Used as stabilizers during flight Give examples of different types of mouthparts Piercing and sucking (mosquitoes) seen among dipterans. Sponging (housefly) Cutting and sponging (horse fly) Describe the mouthparts of horseflies. Proboscis with very slender stylets for cutting and siphoning blood What type of metamorphosis do dipterans Complete metamorphosis (holometabolous undergo? development) Why are many species of Diptera important? Role in disease transmission, as prey for other animals, as biological indicators of polluted water bodies, and in biological control programs 8. Order Hemiptera - Plant bugs, aphids, scale insects , mealybugs What is the main feature shared by all Piercing and sucking mouthparts appearing as a hemipterans? sharply pointed tube known as a proboscis, which is ventral and backwardly directed Name the three suborders of Hemiptera. Heteroptera (true bugs) Auchenorrhyncha (plant hoppers) Sternorrhyncha (aphids, scale insects, mealy bugs) Describe the wings of hemipterans. Two pairs of wings usually present Basal portion of forewing is sclerotized and leathery Apical portion of forewing is membranous (hemielytron) Hind wings are completely membranous and shorter than the forewings What types of eyes do hemipterans have? Compound eyes of various forms Up to 3 ocelli How do the antennae of hemipterans vary? May be short or long and conspicuous Describe the forewings of true bugs (Heteroptera). Hardened at the base and membranous at the tips Kept flat over the abdomen Describe the forewings of plant hoppers Uniform in texture (Auchenorrhyncha). Held like a tent over the abdomen What are the general characteristics of Soft-bodied Sternorrhyncha (aphids, scale insects, mealybugs)? Most species are wingless Heads and proboscis are ventral Often covered with wax or froth What is a lerp? A structure of crystallized honeydew produced as a protective cover by the young of psyllid bugs What is the development of hemipterans. Incomplete metamorphosis What are the effects of hemipterans on plants What are the effects of hemipterans on plants Suck sap, causing damage to crops, ornamental plants, shrubs, and trees Facilitate the growth of black sooty moulds on plant parts How do some hemipterans protect themselves? Form protective waxy secretions or hard galls on leaves and stems Have glands secreting an unpleasant odor What is the purpose of the wax or froth covering on Prevents dehydration of their soft bodies some Sternorrhyncha? 9. Order Mantodea - Praying mantids Which family in the order Neuroptera can be Family Mantispidae mistaken for praying mantids? How can Mantispidae be distinguished from Mantispidae do not have hardened forewings as seen Mantodea? in Mantodea Describe the body of a praying mantid. Elongated body Narrow and elongated pronotum What are the characteristics of the fore-legs of Raptorial with one or two rows of spines praying mantids? How many pairs of wings do praying mantids have Two pairs of wings, both used in flight and what are they used for? Does tegmina present in mantids Yes Describe the wing differences between male and Males of most species are fully winged female praying mantids. Many females have either reduced wings or no wings at all What type of antennae do praying mantids have? Short to medium-sized filiform antennae What type of mouthparts do praying mantids Biting and chewing type possess? How do female praying mantids lay their eggs? In a foamy substance that hardens into a distinctive case (ootheca) How do praying mantids capture their prey? Seize prey with their powerful forelegs 10. Order Dermaptera - Earwigs What are the characteristics of earwig cerci? Heavily sclerotized, pincer-like (forcep-like) What is the difference between male and female Females have straight cerci with an inward pointing tip cerci Males have curved cerci How many pairs of wings do earwigs have and Two pairs of wings what are their characteristics? Forewings are short and hardened to form tegmina Hind wings are membranous and folded in a fan-like way underneath the forewings when not in use Some species are wingless What type of mouthparts do earwigs have? Biting and chewing (mandibulate) type What type of development do earwigs show? Hemimetabolous development How do earwigs use their cerci? Hold food and carry prey What role do earwigs play in food webs? Represent omnivores What is the function of the earwig's tegmina? Hardened forewings What are the characteristics of earwig hind wings? Membranous Folded in a fan-like way underneath the forewings when not in use