Chapter Review: Orthoptera and Other Insects

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture notes on Orthoptera and other insect orders, helping with understanding and retention for the exam.

Orthoptera

An order of insects that includes crickets, grasshoppers, and katydids, characterized by having long straight wings and specialized mouthparts.

Synapomorphy

A shared derived characteristic that is used to define a group of organisms; in Orthoptera, the synapomorphy is jumping legs.

Tympanum

An eardrum structure in insects that detects sound waves; can be located on various body parts like legs or sides.

Gregarious form

A developmental form of certain locusts that occurs under crowded conditions, characterized by long wings and migratory behavior.

Ovipositor

A specialized reproductive structure used by female insects to lay eggs; can be adapted for laying eggs in various environments.

Eardrum

A sensory structure that detects sound waves in insects, located in unusual places on their bodies.

Plague locusts

A type of migratory locust known for devastating agricultural crops; can change color and behavior in response to environmental conditions.

Parthenogenesis

A form of asexual reproduction where offspring are produced from unfertilized eggs, common in some stick insect species.

Mandibles

Specialized mouthparts used by insects to chew and manipulate food.

Ecosystem services

Benefits provided by ecosystems to humans, including pollination, pest control, and nutrient cycling; important for ecological health.

Alate

Winged reproductive form of termites that is produced for swarming and mating.