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Question 1

Where are insect defensive compounds produced?

Answer 1

Exocrine glands found on all body tagma

Question 2

What is the difference between mullerian and Batesian mimicry?

Answer 2

Mullerian mimics are truly unpalatable. Batesians are faking

Question 3

What are allomones?

Answer 3

Chemical cues between individuals of different species that benefit the sender.

Question 4

Give two examples of insects being depicted in art and myth.

Answer 4

Butterflies - happy go lucky

Moths - ghostly apparitions or nocturnal events

Question 5

How are insects typically used in movies?

Answer 5

They are the villains and often are large in size or number and overwhelm humans.

Question 6

Why is entomophobia more common now than in the past?

Answer 6

Because people in urbanized societies lack experience with insects.

Question 7

What are some of the physical features all insects share?

Answer 7

Three body tagmata, one pair of antennae, three pairs of walking legs.

Question 8

What is Gould’s thesis in his article “Linnaeus’s Luck”?

Answer 8

The detractors of taxonomy are wrong because current classifications are based on evolutionary relationships.

Question 9

How are insect semiochemicals made?

Answer 9

They are either synthesized by the insect or sequestered from other sources such as plant food.

Question 10

What are major factors preventing us from using insects as food?

Answer 10

Strong cultural bias, they are seen as unclean, many taste bad

Question 11

Have homeopathic treatments been proven to work?

Answer 11

Not by clinical trial. Anecdotal “truthing” cannot be considered as evidence.

Question 12

What do honeybees typically symbolize?

Answer 12

Femininity and virginity

Question 13

What are the differences between pheromones, kairomones, and allomones?

Answer 13

Pheromones are transmitted within the same species, kairomones are between different species, benefitting the receiver, allomones are from different species benefitting the emitter.

Question 14

How is science generally depicted in movies?

Answer 14

Scientists are depicted as having unlimited power to alter our world and often being unable to control their creations.

Question 15

What is a species as a theoretical concept?

Answer 15

They are composed of participants in or the results of various biological processes.

Question 16

What are some typical themes in monster insect movies?

Answer 16

1. Insects become large
2. Transformation from insect to human or vice versa
3. Many insects swarm and overpower humans
4. Insects have special dangerous powers

Question 17

What is the criteria for determining if an organism has the capacity to feel pain?

Answer 17

1. is there an appropriate nervous system
2. are there behavioral indications
3. is there an evolutionary usefulness for the experience of pain?

Question 18

Which insect has the most painful sting?

Answer 18

Bullet ants

Question 19

Where is the center for learning in an insect? What evidence is there of this?

Answer 19

The corpus pediculatum (mushroom body). There is a correlation between the size and the level of sociality in the group of insects.

Question 20

Do bedbugs vector any human diseases?

Answer 20

No.

Question 21

What does insect vision look like?

Answer 21

A mosaic of the world, not many separate individual images as is often incorrectly depicted.

Question 22

How do insect sensory systems work?

Answer 22

input comes from sensory apparatus, is transmitted by afferent nerves that relay signals to ganglia that then transmit information to muscles or other systems to take action.

Question 23

What is Morgellons Disease?

Answer 23

A collection of symptoms with various physical and psychological causes. Often sufferers blame nonexistent insects or other arthropods.

Question 24

What precautions should you take when eating insects?

Answer 24

If you are allergic to shrimp etc, don’t try. Don’t eat uncooked insects. Treat insect eating with caution.

Question 25

How did the sting develop in hymenoptera?

Answer 25

From female ovipositors that evolved to inject eggs and finally fully developed into a sting.