Final bug class

What are the 4 main feeding habits of beetles?

• The four main feeding habits of beetles are: predators, scavengers, herbivores, and wood borers.

• Adult and larval beetles are found in the same habitat but their feeding habits vary.

Explain the Bombardier beetle chemical defense.

• The Bombardier beetle secretes hot, noxious gas/liquid to deter predators. The chemicals are made of hydroquinones and hydrogen peroxide. It is combined in a mixing chamber and the release reaction is exothermic (vaporizes).

What is the unique adaptation of the diving beetle for its aquatic lifestyle?

• The diving beetle adapted to water with air bubbles and natatorial legs. Their legs aid them in flotation and swimming.

What are the anti-predator defenses that lady beetles use?

• The lady beetles reflex bleeding to deter predators. Reflex bleeding refers to noxious chemicals sprayed out in defense.

For dung beetles, what is the difference between rollers, dwellers and tunnellers?

In dung beetles, the rollers shape pieces of dung into balls and roll them into the dung pile for mass provision for the developing larvae. Tunnellers bury their dung balls by tunneling into the pile. The dwellers are the beetles that lay eggs and live in the dung pile.

Why do hercules beetles fight?

The hercules beetles fight for the purpose of winning a female mate. The fights are male-male competition.

Why are carrion beetles important for humans?

Carrion beetles are important for humans because they provide ecological responsibilities for the environment: recycling nutrients. They also are helpful in forensic importance/entomology.

What is one adaptation that wood boring beetles have for their lifestyle?

Wood boring beetles live and consume decaying matter and material found in dead trees. They can assist in having the trees collapse and having new ones sprout.

What are two examples of beetle pests?

• Two examples of beetle pests are: leaf beetles (major crop pests) and weevils (serious pests with narrow host range).

What types of diseases do beetles spread?

As some beetles are disease vectors, they can spread: Dutch Elm Disease, Fusarium dieback.

What is luciferase?

Luciferase is an enzyme causing the light production reaction as seen in nocturnal fireflies. There is a luminescent organ on their abdomen.

What are halteres?

Halteres can be seen on Diptera’s body next to the wings. They are balanced organs needed for flight.

What types of mouthparts do flies have?

Flies have diverse mouthparts: piercing/sucking (proboscis), sponging, slashing and lapping

What are the two dipteran larval forms?

The two dipteran larval forms are: culicform-type larvae - “primitive” flies with well-developed head & vermiform-type larvae - “advanced” flies with reduced heads, generally called maggots.

What are the 3 Dipteran courtship and mating strategies?

The 3 Dipteran courtship and mating strategies are: (1) sound: males can hear females wingbeat frequencies, (2) vision: swarms of males fly and gather around food resources, (3) leks: males gather in places that are not associated with resources.

Why are Dipteras so successful?

Diptera are so successful because (1) adults and larvae in separate niches, (2) adults are excellent dispersers, some fly up to 450 km, (3) larvae adapted to nutritious decay, (4) short generation time for many species (7-10 days), (5) common worldwide, but become dominant insect group in cold climates.

Diptera family: Tipulidae

list their (1) common names, (2) common diet item, and (3) ecological service/diservice

(1) Common name - Crane Flies

(2) common diet item - grass, roots, decaying matter

(3) ecological service: food source to other species, helps with decomposition and pest control

Diptera family: Ceratopogonidae

list their (1) common names, (2) common diet item, and (3) ecological service/diservice

(1) common name - midges

(2) common diet item - nectar, sap, juice

3) ecological service - clean aquatic environment by consuming and recycling organic debris

Diptera family: Psychodidae

list their (1) common names, (2) common diet item, and (3) ecological service/diservice

(1) common name - sandflies

(2) common diet item - females feed on blood, and males feed on nectar or honeydew.

(3) ecological diservice - they can vector human diseases

Diptera family: Tabanidae

list their (1) common names, (2) common diet item, and (3) ecological service/diservice

 (1) common name - horse flies & deer flies

(2) common diet item - females feed on blood, and males feed on nectar

3) ecological service - pollinators but they also have a painful bite with blood loss and are vectors of diseases

Diptera family: Asilidae

list their (1) common names, (2) common diet item, and (3) ecological service/diservice

(1) common name - robber flies

(2) common diet item - flies, beetles, butterflies, moths, bees, wasps, ants, grasshoppers, crickets, dragonflies

(3) ecological service - they are predatory so they eat a lot of other species that is either good for the environment or can be harmful

Diptera family: Muscidae

list their (1) common names, (2) common diet item, and (3) ecological service/diservice

(1) common name - Tsetse fly

(2) common diet item - blood from humans and other mammals or reptiles

(3) ecological diservice - can cause sleeping sickness (African trypanosomiasis)

Diptera family: Calliphoridae

list their (1) common names, (2) common diet item, and (3) ecological service/diservice

(1) common name - blow flies

(2) common diet item - adults feed on nectar, and larvae are scavengers of carrion and dung

(3) ecological service - can locate dead flesh within minutes so they are helpful in forensic importance, and they are also occasional pollinators

Diptera family: Simuliidae

list their (1) common names, (2) common diet item, and (3) ecological service/diservice

 (1) common name - black flies

(2) common diet item - flower nectar, females can also feed on blood

(3) ecological service - the larvae has organic matter that other species can use, and they are prey for other species

Diptera family: Culcidae

list their (1) common names, (2) common diet item, and (3) ecological service/diservice

(1) common name - mosquitoes

(2) common diet item - blood (females), flower nectar

(3) ecological diservice - carry diseases like Malaria

What is maggot therapy?

Maggot therapy aids in wound healing. The maggots break down the infected tissue into liquid and then consume it.

True or false: the oldest colonized insects should give the best estimate of post mortem interval (PMI).

True

What makes an insect good for forensic entomology? Are the insects that undergo complete metamorphosis best or worst and why?

The characteristics that make an insect good for forensic entomology include having predictable and short development times that are temperature dependent, such as the blow fly life cycle. Insects that undergo complete metamorphosis are the best for forensic entomology because they have predictable life stages.

What are phorid flies, how do they interact with ants?

Phorid flies are visually similar to fruit flies, they are parasitoids of ants and can be used in biocontrol. The phorid fly can lay an egg into a fire ant, and if they are successful, the larvae will hatch in the ant’s head, leading to an incapacitation, and the ant dies.

Why do mosquitoes suck blood? Do males or females do it?

Female mosquitoes suck blood as it is used for egg development. Male mosquitoes do not feed on blood.

What are 5 ways you can prevent mosquito bites?

5 ways you can prevent mosquito bites are: (1) covering skin, (2) sleep in mosquito nets, (3) eliminate containers of standing water to prevent breeding sites, (4) use insect repellent, (5) use screens or mosquito nets in windows and doors to reduce contact.

What are 3 characteristics of Culex mosquitoes?

3 characteristics of Culex mosquitoes are: (1) lay eggs in boat-shaped clusters (rafts), (2) prefers to lay eggs in water rich in organic content, (3) active at night (nocturnal habit)

What are 3 characteristics of Aedes mosquitoes?

3 characteristics of Aedes mosquitoes are: (1) black and white stripes on body and legs, (2) bite during the day, (3) vector of disease: dengue, yellow fever

What are 3 characteristics of Anopheles mosquitoes?

3 characteristics of Anopheles mosquitoes are: (1) host specificity: variable, (2) difficult to control as they bite indoors, outdoors, during night or dawn, (3) vector of mammalian malaria, canine heartworm, various viruses.

What are 3 differences between Anopheles and Culex?

3 differences between Anopheles and Culex: (1) POSTURE: Anopheles has a body in one axis, and Culex has body in two axes

(2) MOUTHPARTS: Anopheles has long palps, and Culex has short palps

(3) WINGS: Anopheles has spotted wings, Culex has transparent wings

What are 4 types of methods for mosquito control. Consider the pros and cons of all of them?

 4 types of methods for mosquito control are: (1) ultra low volume

(2) cold fogging pesticide application,

(3) elimination of habitat

(4) sterile male releases (SIT).

What is a vector? What is an example of a vector?

A vector is an organism that transmits a pathogen. An example of a vector are mosquitoes.

What is a pathogen? What is an example of a pathogen?

 A pathogen is a casual agent. An example of a pathogen is virus

What is transmission?

transmission is how a pathogen spreads from one host to another

What is virulence?

virulence is the harmfulness of the disease to the host

What is the relationship between virulence and transmission?

High transmission will cause a higher virulence. If it is easy to get to a new host, a pathogen can cause serious damage to host.

What is Filariasis? What are some ways to avoid it?

filariasis is a parasitic disease caused by ringworm, and it leads to incomplete lymph drainage. Some ways to avoid it are:

incesticide treated nets

avoid outside activity at dawn and dusk

pesticide applications indoors

What are the X steps of the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis?

 the x steps of the global programme to eliminate lymphatic filariasis are:

1) stop the spread of infection

2) alleviate suffering

What does the Black Fly vector?

the black fly vectors river blindness

What is African Trypanosomiasis?

African trypanosomiasis is a disease caused by parasite. It causes severe fatigue and tiredness, fever, aches, pains, inflammation, and worse. It is called “sleeping sickness”.

What is the causal agent and vector for Malaria?

the causal agent for malaria is a protozoan, while the vector for malaria are mosquitoes

What are some ways people have been attempting to combat Malaria?

some ways people are trying to combat malaria are vaccines, third-generation insecticides, and education.

What is the vector for Leishmaniases? What are some of the prevention and treatment tools for it?

30 different sand fly species are the vector for leishmaniasis. Some prevention methods are to sleep under nets treated with insecticides, and treatments depend on the species, parasite, where it is contacted.

What are 5 diseases caused by insect vectored viruses?

5 diseases caused by insect vectored diseases are:

1. West Nile virus

2. dengue virus

3. yellow fever virus

4. Zika virus

5. hikungunya virus.

Is West Nile Virus in the US? How are people controlling it?

As of 2016, the West Nile virus has been reported in the United States. People are controlling it by using repellents—CDC recommends DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus

What is Yellow fever? What populations are most affected?

Yellow fever is a viral disease vectored by yellow fever mosquito. Symptoms are classified by muscle aches, fever, vomiting, liver damage, and coma/death. Populations in South America and Africa are affected.

What is forensic entomology?

Forensic entomology is the use of the insects, and their arthropod relatives that inhabit decomposing remains to aid legal investigation.

Describe one case study from lecture where forensic entomology was used.

one case in which forensic entomology was used was the grasshopper in a radiator.

What can we learn from insects in forensic entomology?

what we can learn from forensic entomology is an estimation of time since death

What are the estimates of postmortem intervals (PMI) based on?

PMI is based on the time required for a specific species to develop, and the comparisons of assemblages of insects present on the remains

What types of insects are collected at crime scenes? Hint: Necrophages, Parasitoids, and what other two?

the types of insects collected at crime scenes are necrophages, omnivores, parasitoids and predators, and incidentals

What are the 5 stages of decomposition fueled by insect activity? What is the timeframe for each stage? What is going on at each stage, in regards to the insects and temperature?

 The five stages of decomposition are

fresh (1-2 days)

bloated (2-6 days)

decay (5-11 days)

post-decay / butyric fermentation(10-25 days)

dry or skeletal (25+ days)

What insects are found during the freshest stages of decomposition? What about the least fresh stages?

Insects found during the freshest stage of decomposition are:

blowflies, then the least freshest, follow as is: burying beetles; cheese skipper flies; ham beetles; hide beetles

What are accumulated degree hours or days? How is it calculated?

 accumulated degree hour represent the energy required for an insect to complete development, which can represent an entire lifespan or specific stages

What information do you need to calculate the PMI?

The needed info for PMI is: 1) species; 2) temperature (lab/field); 3) development time (lab/total) 

How are bloodstain patterns used in forensic entomology?

bloodstain patterns are used in forensic entomology to distinguish between fly tracks, fly specks, and regurgitation, from real blood

If a corpse is puffy, what stage of decomposition is it in?

 if a corpse is puffy it is in the bloated stage

What insects colonize bodies at the post-decay stage and are also used in museums to clean specimen?

Dermestidae beetles

What are the differences between complete and incomplete metamorphosis?

Complete Metamorphosis (Holometabolism):

• Stages: Egg, larva, pupa, adult.

• Larval Stage: Larvae often look completely different from adults and typically have different diets and habitats.

• Pupal Stage: A resting stage where the organism undergoes significant transformation.

• Examples: Butterflies, beetles, flies, and ants.

Incomplete Metamorphosis (Hemimetabolism):

• Stages: Egg, nymph, adult.

• Nymph Stage: Nymphs generally resemble smaller versions of the adult but without fully developed wings and reproductive organs.

• Lack of Pupal Stage: Nymphs gradually develop into adults through a series of molts.

• Examples: Grasshoppers, cockroaches, and true bugs

What hormones regulate molting and metamorphosis?

• Ecdysone: Promotes molting and the progression of metamorphosis.

• Juvenile Hormone (JH): Inhibits the development of adult characteristics during the larval stages; its decrease

  triggers metamorphosis

What mouthparts do the major groups we learned about have and which ones do complete metamorphosis:

(1) Moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera)?

(2) Ants, bees and wasps (Hymenoptera)?

(3) Beetles (Coleoptera)?
(4) Flies (Diptera)?
(5) Grasshoppers (Orthoptera)?

1. Moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera) - Siphoning, Complete metamorphosis

2. Ants, bees and wasps (Hymenoptera) - Chewing and in some cases modified for lapping, Complete metamorphosis

3. Beetles (Coleoptera) - Chewing, complete metamorphosis

4. Flies (Diptera) - Sponging or sucking, complete metamorphosis

5. Grasshoppers (Orthoptera) - Chewing, incomplete metamorphosis

What is the difference between Batesian and Mullerian mimicry?

• Batesian mimicry: harmless species mimics the appearance of a harmful species to avoid predation

• Mullerian mimicry: two or more harmful species resemble each other, reinforcing the avoidance behavior in predators

What morphological structure is a stinger? Do males and females have one?

• Modified ovipositor

• Only females have stingers because males do not possess ovipositors

What morphological structure is a stinger? Do males and females have one?

• Modified ovipositor

• Only females have stingers because males do not possess ovipositors

What are the criteria for eusociality?

• Not all individuals reproduce

• Members of colony work together to care for the young

• Multiple generations live together

What is structural color?

Produced by microstructures that interfere with light, rather than by pigments