Arthropods Flashcards
(80 cards)
Coleoptera, Diptera, hemiptera, lepidoptera, and hymenoptera are the…
Most diverse orders of insects.
What is the main key feature of the phylum Arthropods?
Hard exoskeleton with jointed legs.
Where is most insect diversity found geographically?
In tropical areas.
Insects are commonly keystone species, how so?
They disproportionatly play a role in their environments via pollination, herbivory, nutrient recycling, being a food source, etc.
What are some evolutionary reasons for insect success?
Small size, exoskeleton, highly organized sensory and neuromotor systems, short generation time, flight, metamorphosis, etc.
What is the paranotal theory of wings?
That they derived from rigid non-movable lobe-like expansions of the thoracic terga (dorsal region).
What is the pleural theory of wings?
They derived from articulated lateral extensions from pleuron (abdominal region).
What’s the difference between direct and indirect flight?
Direct has muscles directly attached to wings - slower and more control - indirect has asynchronous muscles attached to thorax cuticle that allows for faster wing beating - less control.
What is metamorphosis?
Process of distinct development and growth from juvenile into an adult.
What are the three kinds of metamorphosis?
Ametaboly - no metamorphosis, hemimetaboly - incomplete, and holometaboly - complete.
Key features of Collembola?
Ametabolous, present antennae, entognathous (mouthparts within folds of head), and have a forked jumping organ on abdomen (furcula).
Key features of Protura?
Ametabolous, entognathous, lack eyes andd antennae, found in soils, moss, and leaf litter.
Key features of Diptera?
Homometabolous, one pair of wings.
Insects are all divided into three parts, what are they?
Head, thorax, and abdomen.
The cuticle is secreted from the ___, and is made up of ___ layers.
Secreted from the epidermis and made up of 3 layers, the epicuticle, exocuticle, and endocuticle.
How many segments does the head typically have?
Six.
Entognathous vs. Ectognathous.
Internal mouthparts (ento) and external mouthparts (exo).
Three types of mouthparts.
Mandibulate, sectorial, and mouth hooks.
Scape, pedisel, and flagellum are parts of what?
Antenna.
What are the three parts of the thorax?
Prothorax, mesothorax, and metathorax.
How many legs are attached to the thorax?
6, three pairs - forelegs, mid legs, and hind legs (can be modified).
The abdomen can have how many segments?
A varied amount - 6+.
What is an ovipositor?
A tube-like organ for laying eggs. - Consists of a maximum of three pairs of appendages.
What is cerci?
Sensory organs that can be modified (rarely) for defense and predation.