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Topic 1. Introduction to Insecta

 

________________

(Name)     

I. MATERIALS.

            Preserved insect material from the general insect collection is provided in the classroom. A textbook, such as Gillott, Entomology, 1995, should be handy.

 

II. LEARNING OBJECTIVES.

            Become familiar with the Class Insecta and distinction between insects and other closely related invertebrates. Learn a few elementary terms and Orders.

 

III. INTRODUCTION.

            The main distinguishing feature of insects is that they have ______ legs. Only Insects, birds and bats have the ability to ______, which further distinguishes them from other animals.  Insects and birds also have _______ vision, which distinguishes them from other animals in the same manner human beings are distinguished from most other mammals.

 

            The vast majority of non-insect arthropods are found in the ____________, whereas the vast majority of insects are found on or associated with land (they are terrestrial).

 

IV. DIRECTIONS.

            Define the difference between Insecta and Hexapoda:

            

 

 

 

 

 

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            All arthropods have certain features in common.  Describe the most important of these.

            

 

 

 

 

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            Name the 28 insect Orders as identified by Gillott (Entomology, 2nd ed., 1995, see page 101) by Subclass, Infraclass and Division:

 

                                                            Scientific Names                           Common Names

I. Subclass Apterygota

                                                1______________________,  _____________________.

                                                2______________________.  _____________________. 

II. Subclass Pterygota

            Paleoptera                   3______________________,  _____________________.

                                                4______________________.  _____________________.

                        Infraclass Neoptera

            Polyneoptera

                                                5______________________,  _____________________.

                                                6______________________,  _____________________.

                                                7______________________,  _____________________.

                                                8______________________,  _____________________.

                                                9______________________,  _____________________.

                                                10_____________________,  _____________________.

                                                11_____________________,  _____________________.

                                                12_____________________,  _____________________.

                                                13_____________________,  _____________________.

 

                                    Paraneoptera

                                                14_____________________,  _____________________.

                                                15_____________________,  _____________________.

                                                16_____________________,  _____________________.

                                                17_____________________,  _____________________.

                                                                                   

                                    Oligoneoptera             

                                                18_____________________,  _____________________.

                                                19_____________________,  _____________________.

                                                20_____________________,  _____________________.

                                                21_____________________,  _____________________.

                                                22_____________________,  _____________________.

                                                23_____________________,  _____________________.

                                                24_____________________,  _____________________.

                                                25_____________________,  _____________________.

                                                26_____________________,  _____________________.

                                                27_____________________,  _____________________.

                                                28_____________________,  _____________________.

 

 

            Fill in the appropriate numbers from the listing on the previous page.

 

            The various order of insects listed above are also separated into subdivisions of ametabola  (___-___), hemimetabola (___-___) and holometabola (___-___).  Indicate these categories by placing the proper number of the order included in the parentheses above. 

 

            Of the winged insects, the Holometabola are also termed endopterygota.   Define the term endopterygota and identify the equivalent term that applies to all other winged insects (pterygota). 

 

            Endopterygota:

 

 

 

 

 

                                    

  

                                  

 

 

Nonendopterygote winged insects (pterygota) are termed: ___________________.

 

            From the materials provided by the TA from the insect collection, describe a representative insect from each of the major orders shown below.  List the scientific and common names of the insects you have chosen, if they have one. Choose one or two characteristics that help you recognize the insect as belonging to a particular Order.

 

                                   Scientific Name                                              Common Name

 

1.  Diptera            ________________________         ___________________________

            Description.

 

 

 

 

2.  Lepidoptera     ________________________         ___________________________

            Description.

 

 

 

 

 

3.  Coleoptera     ________________________         ___________________________

            Description.

 

 

 

4.  Odonata           ________________________         ___________________________

            Description.

 

 

 

5.  Hemiptera      ________________________         ___________________________

            Description.

 

 

 

6.  Orthoptera      ________________________         ___________________________

            Description.

 

 

 

 

7.  Hymenoptera ________________________         ___________________________

            Description.

 

 

 

 

8.  Dermaptera    ________________________         ___________________________

            Description.

 

 

 

 

9.  Isoptera            ________________________         ___________________________

            Description.

 

 

 

 

10.  Phasmida     ________________________         ___________________________

            Description.

 

 

 

 

            Only a few insects are used for insect physiology studies usually dictated by convenience or ease of rearing.  Throughout this course, certain of these insects will be referred to again and again.  The names of some of the more common experimental insects are given here for edification.  Try to include some of them in your list above. 

                                                                                                                          (Order)

            Periplaneta americana          American cockroach                   _____________________

            Manduca sexta                       Tobacco hornworm                    _____________________

            Hyalophora cecropia              Cecropia moth                           _____________________

            Locusta migratoria                 Migratory locust                         _____________________

            Schistocerca gregaria             Desert locust                              _____________________

            Rhodnius prolixus                   Assassin or Triatomid bug           _____________________                 

           Musca domestica                    Housefly.                                     _____________________

            Sarcophaga bullata                Blowfly.                                      _____________________

            Apis mellifera                         Honey bee.                                 _____________________

            Tenebrio molitor                    Yellow mealworm.                      _____________________

            Carausius morosus                 Indian stick insect.                      _____________________

            Thermobia domestica             Firebrat.                                     _____________________

            Mantis religiosa                      Praying mantis                           _____________________

            Acheta domesticus                  House cricket                             _____________________

            Myzus persicae                       Green peach aphid                      _____________________

            Bombyx mori                          Silkworm                                    _____________________

            Danaus plexippus                   Monarch butterfly                        _____________________

            Oncopeltus fasciatus              Milkweed bug                             _____________________

            Drosophila melanogaster       Vinegar fly                                  _____________________

            Culex pipiens                          Common mosquito                     _____________________

            Trichoplusia ni                       Cabbage looper                          _____________________

            Spodoptera exigua                  Beet armyworm                          _____________________

           

            On the line to right of the insects listed above, put the Order they belong to.

 

V. SUMMARY ANALYSIS.

            Describe in your own words what you have learned from this exercise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

VI. REFERENCES.

Gillott, C.  Entomology, 1995, 2nd ed., Plenum, New York, NY.

 

Common Names of Insects and Related Organisms, 1989, Entomological Society of America, Lanham, MD, Committee on common Names of Insects.

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(Name)                       

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