Entm 010 Midterm Prep

Key words around physiology, manners, etc.

tagmata

the three body segments of an insect; head, throax, abdomen

(plural is tagmata singular is tagma)

exoskeletonn

a hard, tough, watertight covering that protects the body of certain insects and forms wings in some

sclerites

hard, plate like sections of an insects exterior

midgut

middle section of an insects gut, main section where digestion of nutrients and absorption occur

food absorption

the process by which insects intake food broken down in their gut

basement membrane

innermost component of the exoskeleton, connects tissues to the exoskeletons

cellular epidermis 

layer of cells that secretes the basement membrane and the external cuticle 

cuticle

non-cellular material covering the insects; has two components

procuticle

two layers, endocuticle and exocuticle

epicuticle

on top of the exocuticle, the outer-most layer of the exoskeleton and manifests the characteristics of the insect

chitin

tough polysaccharide similar to cellulose and starch found in plants; main ingredient of exoskeleton 

sclerotin

protein mixed with chitin

sclerotization

process occuring in the exocuticle; proteins chemically cross-link and cause the cuticle to darken/ harden

consequences of an exoskeleton

• insect grows by molting

• limits size of animals 

benefits of a exoskeleton

• dispels water loss

• defense against predators, parasites, pathogens

• protects digestive lining

• efficient muscle placement

• shock absorption

labrum

insect “upper lip“; keeps food in mouth

mandibles

cut up and chew food

maxillae

second set of jaws

labium

insect “lower lip“; helps keep food in mouth

palps

finger like appendages that help insects grip food, taste, smell, and perceive temperatures

chewing mouthpart insect

insect that chews their food through specific mouth parts

piercing-sucking mouthparts

modifications of basic chewing part, insects that withdraw fluids from plants and animals

maxillary stylet

inside stylet; sucks up fluids

mandibular stylet

outside stylet; spews out fluids and spit

antennae

sensory structure that helps touch, detect odor, humidity, vibration, wind velocity and direction

scape

base connecting antennae to head

pedicel

small middle section connecting scape to flagellum 

flagellum

longest part of the antennae and is the part that connects to substances to feel

johnston’s organ

sensory ctructure that detects moving air; sound or movement

compound eyes 

photoreceptive organs in adult insects receiving form, color, and movement 

ommatidia

individual units making up the compound eye

dorsal ocelli 

three small eyes capable of detecting changes in the weather 

stemmata or lateral ocelli

eyes found in juvenal insects, similar to compound eyes but less efficient and limited in focus capabilities

thorax

middle section of an insect, holds the insects legs and wings

insect legs 

four segments trochanter, femur, tibia and tarsus make up the mode of travel for most insects 

pretarsus 

the bottom of the insect “foot“, allowing it to walk up a walk and walk upside down on a ceiling

cursorial legs

thin and long legs best for running or walking on surfaces

natatorial legs

smaller, slightly thicker legs that propel an insect in water

saltatorial legs

long legs best for jumping 

raptorial legs

thick and sturdy legs best for hunting prey

fossorial legs

thick, small legs best for digging

wings

extensions of the exoskeleton that propel some insects

apterygota

insects that never developed flight structures

pterygota

groups of insects that developed wings 

abdomen

hind section of an insect, last tagma

aedeagus

male genitalia

ovipositor

female genitalia

cerci 

segment of the abdomen that acts as a sensory appendage