insect arthropods

body parts

three main parts, head thorax and abdomen

thorax

divided into pro, meso and meta

each segment generally has a pair of legs

abdomen

segments differ but would be numbered anterior to posterior

petiole

part of the abdomen but found within the distinction

ants

elbowed antennae, petiole

pronotum

shield behind head forming the top of the prothorax

can be essential for ID

scutellum

triangular plate behind the pronotum

elytra

hardened fore wings

cerci

paired sensory appendages on the posterior abdomen

cilla detect predator air currents from behind, or act as pinchers or for reproductive purposes (clasping ex)\

not in all species

ovipositor

female sexual appendage for depositing eggs

wing pads - immature

wont cover the abdomen

compound eye

large bulging eyes with many lens (up to 1000s)

each lens has its own photoreceptor supporting a mosaic view of surrounding rather than a focussed image

lens on top may be bigger than on bottom

camel cricket

wingless as it lives underground

long antennae for feeling in the dark

frons

forehead plate

clypeus

another broad plate above the labrum

labrum

upper lip

plate-like sclerite that serves as a front lip to help contain the food

mandible

paired appendages/jaws

side to side movements, chewing/crushing/grinding

maxilla

paired mouthpart

aids in holding food for other appendages to chew/rip

maxillary palp

sensory appendage

labial palp

also sensory appendage

scleritization

after shedding, exoskeleton is soft and vulnerable

it doesn’t dry however, to harden there is a cross linking of proteins

coxa

first leg segment of insects

usually very short/hidden

trochanter

elbow like leg segment of insects

femur

leg segment occuring after the trochanter

insect leg segments order

coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia, tarsus

incomplete metamorphosis

no pupal stage, nymph

wing pads

soon to be wings

types of mouthparts

imp for ID

sucking, chewing,

aquatic adaptations

ex water boatman

swimming hind legs look like oars, small forelegs

air bubble - plastron

plastron

air bubble found in aquatic species

attaches due to specialized tiny hairs which repel water

how they breath! needs to be replenished

proboscis

mouthpart in butterflies which acts like a straw

can be coiled or uncoiled

butterflies

proboscis

sometimes only have 4 legs

sometimes hibernate

membranous wings

contain wing veins

where do wings attach?

in insects ONLY on mesothorax and metathorax

never abdomen, or prothorax

setae

modified scales which cover butterfly wings

not needed for flight

butterflies and UV light

see combination of normal and UV light

females are sensitive to UV on males

fly

only one pair of wings, halteres, short antennae generally

halteres

reduced wings used for balance or orientation in space in flight

snow crane fly

can be winter active

no wings, but still have halteres

bc warmer at ground level so best to stay there

robber fly

like many flies, mimics a bee

most predators dont want to eat bees (sting) and most bees wont bother others

this is a predator and so it can also trick its prey

alder adelgids

sucking buds which cover themselves by a waxy secretion

allows escape from predators

tortoise beetles

can completely protect their legs and antennae from ant attacks as they have shield like elytra and pronotum to cover

beetles colour

bright iridescent structural colours - not totally sure why

cuckoo wasp

lays eggs in nests of solitary bees and wasps

brood parasitism is common in insects

luna moths

recently entered ab from the east due to warming climate

potentially the long wings makes it harder for bats to track w echolocation?

moth morphology

many have disrupted outlines to look like dead leaves

ambush bugs

predatory bugs who are camoflauged to await their prey in flowers

grasping appendages

water scorpion

awaits their prey under water