Entomology -- Week 9

Webspinners

What is the common name for Embioptera?

Females spin silk from glands in their enlarged front tarsi.

What is a key characteristic of Embioptera?

Live in silk tunnels; hemimetabolous; females are wingless, males are short-lived and may have wings.

Describe the life history of Embioptera.

Highly flexible first tarsomere modified for silk production.

What is a unique adaptation of Embioptera?

Stick bugs and leaf bugs

What are the common names for Phasmatodea?

Excellent camouflage; long, slender bodies or broad, leaf-like forms.

Key characteristic of Phasmatodea?

True stick insects; extremely elongated and wingless.

Family: Diapheromeridae – Common trait?

Leaf insects; mimic leaves with flattened, wide bodies.

Family: Phylliidae – Common trait?

Hemimetabolous; herbivorous; eggs resemble seeds; may have parthenogenesis.

Describe Phasmatodea life history.

Rock crawlers or gladiators

What is the common name for Mantophasmatodea?

Wingless, predatory, long legs; resemble both mantids and phasmids.

Key characteristics of Mantophasmatodea?

Hemimetabolous; recently discovered (~2002); restricted to southern Africa.

Life history of Mantophasmatodea?

Ice crawlers or rock crawlers

What is the common name for Grylloblattodea?

Wingless, slow-moving, cold-adapted insects found in high altitudes.

Key characteristics of Grylloblattodea?

Hemimetabolous; nocturnal scavengers; extremely cold-tolerant.

Life history of Grylloblattodea?

Mantises

What is the common name for Mantodea?

Raptorial front legs, triangular head, excellent predators.

Key characteristics of Mantodea?

Largest family; includes common praying mantis.

Key family: Mantidae – What’s notable?

Hemimetabolous; eggs laid in ootheca; ambush predators.

Describe Mantodea life history.

Roaches and termites

What are the common names for Blattodea?

Flattened bodies, long antennae, fast runners; scavengers.

Key characteristics of cockroaches (Blattidae)?

Eusocial; caste system (workers, soldiers, reproductives); cellulose-digesting symbionts.

Key characteristics of termites (Termitidae)?

Hemimetabolous; termites form large colonies; roaches are mostly solitary or communal.

Life history of Blattodea?