Insect Lecture Review

Flashcards for insect biology, ecology, and entomology terms.

Puparium

Hardened last larval skin that encases the pupa in advanced flies.

Haltere

Balancing organ in flies that allows precision flight.

Elytra

Hardened forewings protecting the hindwings and body in beetles.

Aposematic Coloration

Warning coloration signaling toxicity.

Mimicry

When an animal mimics another species to avoid predators, like robber flies mimicking bumblebees.

Forensic Entomology

Use of insects to determine time and place of death in legal cases.

Eusociality

Social structure with reproductive division of labor, overlapping generations, and cooperative care of young.

Malpighian Tubules

Excretory organs in insects that filter waste from hemolymph.

Hemolymph

Insect blood that circulates nutrients, hormones, and waste.

Holometabolous

Complete metamorphosis: egg → larva → pupa → adult.

Structural Coloration

Colors produced by microscopic surface structures, not pigments.

Leishmaniasis

Disease caused by protozoa spread by sandflies; cutaneous, mucosal, or visceral forms.

Adenotrophic viviparity

Unusual reproduction in Tsetse Flies, egg retained in uterus, larva nourished by gland, pupates after birth

Tiger Beetle Larvae

Predatory larvae known for their burrowing behavior. ambush prey with jaws and anchor to burrow w abdominal hooks.

Diving Beetles

Aquatic predators; adults have natatorial legs and use air bubbles to breathe (use hind legs to swim)

Bombardier Beetle Defensive Strategy

A specialized defense mechanism where the beetle ejects a hot, noxious chemical spray from its abdomen to deter predators.

Carrion Beetle

Found on decomposing bodies, used in forensics to estimate time of death. Play a crucial ecological role in recycling nutrients and use aposematic coloration.

Dung Beetle Biology

Dung beetles are insects that feed on feces, which they roll into balls for larvae and nourishment. They play a vital role in nutrient recycling and soil aeration and culturally significant in egypt.

Cryptic Coloration

Camouflage to avoid detection (ex. stick insects, leaf mimic)

Diapause

Developmental pause in response to environmental conditions (ex. overwintering)

Proleg

fleshy abdominal legs found in caterpillars; have crotchets for gripping.

Tympanal Organ Locations

located on various body parts, such as the thorax or abdomen, used for sound detection.

biting midges

Small insects known for their painful bites and the ability to transmit diseases like bluetongue to humans and animals.

non-biting midges

do not bite or carry diseases

Tsetse Fly & Disease

Vector of African trypanosomiasis (sleeping fever) and symptoms include fever, neurological damage, and even death.

tsetse reproduction

unusual life cycle: fertilize one egg at a time in uterus, nurished by uterus gland, pupates in ground, then emerges as adult.