Lecture 5 & 6

Question 1

dfrfWhat is the largest order in the animal kingdom?

Answer 1

Coleoptera

40% of all insects
25% of all animals

over 300,000 species worldwide & 166 families

Question 2

How many species of Coleoptera is in Ireland?

Answer 2

2,154 species

Question 3

what term is given to adult Coleoptera with characteristic wing cases?

Answer 3

‘elytra’

Question 4

List of Coleoptera characteristics:

Answer 4

• herbivores
• predators
• parasites
• pollinators

Question 5

What are the characteristics of a Coleoptera larvae?

Answer 5

nearly always ‘ oligopodous’ ( with normal thoracic legs only)
& ‘ eucephalous ( with well- developed head capsule)

Question 6

What beetles are in the super family: Scarabaeoidea?

Answer 6

• stag beetles (Lucanidae)
• Dor beetles ( Geotrupidae)
• Dung & scarab beetles ( Scarabaeidae)

Question 7

What are Wire Worms the larvae of?

Answer 7

Click-beetles (Coeoptera: Elateridae)

Wireworms damage crops

Question 8

What family are ladybirds in?

Answer 8

Family: Coccinellidae - aphidophagous - they eat aphids.

Question 9

ESSAY Q:

Beetles are a huge order of insects. Evaluate, using examples, some of their interactions with agriculture.

Answer 9

go read essay

Question 10

ESSAY Q:

How do dung beetles navigate & what role do they play in the environment?

Answer 10

go read essay

Question 11

How many species are there of Hemiptera?

Answer 11

There are 50-70,000 species & about 100 families.

~ 770 species in Ireland

Question 12

Are Hemiptera Holometabolous?

Answer 12

No, they are Hemimetabolous - meaning incomplete metamorphosis.

Question 13

What are the 2 sub-orders based on wings in Hemiptera?

Answer 13

Heteroptera
Homoptera

Question 14

What are some characteristics of sub order of Hemiptera?

Answer 14

Known as “ true bugs”
Herbivores & carnivores
bed bugs, shield bugs, bugs on or in water
50,000 species world wide

Question 15

What are shield bugs know as in the USA?

Answer 15

stink bugs

Question 16

What damage does Hemiptera feeding species cause?

Answer 16

1.) Direct removal of plant nutrients.
2.) Injection of phytotoxic saliva - causing growth distortions.
3.) Excretion of ‘honeydew’ waste - clogs plant stomata; inhibits photosynthesis; provides a medium for growth of sooty moulds etc - blocks light & photosynthesis.
4.) Transmission of plant-pathogenic viruses.

Question 17

what Hemiptera causes damage to potato crops?

Answer 17

The Brown (potato) capsid in the family Miridae.
‘Capsid’ or ‘Mirid’ bugs

Question 18

What family are bed bugs in?

Answer 18

Cimicidae

Question 19

What are the characteristics of the second suborder of Hemioptera Homoptera?

Answer 19

Suborder Homoptera

• forewings same texture throughout
• held roof wise over body than flat
  -all vegetarian
• cicadas, leaf hoppers, aphids

Question 20

What are the traits of The Tobacco Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) ?

Answer 20

Similar to Glasshouse whitefly

• found globally.
• field, vegetable &ornamental crop production.
  -carrier of plant disease. eg. yellow leaf curl.
• pest of salad crops eg. tomato & cucumber.
• any found so far in Ireland have been eradicated.
• the ‘Whitefly natural enemy’ is the Parasitoid wasp.

Question 21

What Superfamily do Aphids belong in?

Answer 21

Aphidoidea

Question 22

what are characteristics of aphids?

Answer 22

• 5000 species described, 450 as pests.
• Damage by removal of sap, honeydew.
• Transmitters of viruses.
• Family: Aphididae.
• Females mainly ‘Parthenogenetic’ - nymphs borne alive (viviparous)