Main Characteristics

Arthropods with chitinous exoskeleton Body divided in 3 parts(head, thorax,

abdomen) 3 pairs of legs Presence of compound eyes and a pair of antennae Developments involves a series of molts The only invertebrates to have evolved flight May be nearly found in all environments Some may be parasitic or insectivorous May undergo and develop from 4 different kinds of metamorphosis

Atrophaneura semperi
Queen of the Philippines. This stately butterfly is endemic to the Philippines where it is now threatened. This species is related to the giant birdwings of Papua New Guinea. It has a slow deliberate flight and looks almost like it should stall in mid air. It is mimicked by the Scarlet Swallowtail which lacks the red head of this species. Semperi is rarely seen in butterfly display.

Segmentation

Segmentation
HEAD

Enclosed in a hard, heavily, sclerotized, unsegmented exoskeletal head capsule or epicranium

Arthropod eyes are called compound eyes because they are made up of repeating units, the ommatidia, each of which functions as a separate visual receptor. Each ommatidium consists of: A lens (the front surface of which makes up a single facet) A transparent crystalline cone Light-sensitive visual cells arranged in a radial pattern like the sections of an orange Pigment cells which separate the ommatidium from its neighbors.

Segmentation

THORAX
Segment composed of three sections, the prothorax, mesothorax and the metathorax.

Segmentation

ABDOMEN
The last segment of the insect, which typically consist of 11 12 segments and is less sclerotized than the head or thorax

Exoskeleton
Insects possess an exterior covering called the exoskeleton. Insects do not have internal bones. This segmented "shell" is what gives insects shape and can be very hard in some insects. It is often covered with a waxy layer and may have "hairs" called setae.

seta ( hair)
waxy layer

Internal Anatomy
Inside the insect we find the systems for respiration, circulation, nerves, and digestion, but there is little resemblance to the same systems found in man or other mammals.

foregut Digestive sys

hindgut

midgut

Digestive System
foregut hindgut

Digestive sys

midgut

The digestive system is a tube (alimentary canal) that opens at the mouth and empties at the tail end of the insect. It is divided into three parts called the foregut, midgut, and hind gut. In some insects such as the honey bee, the foregut acts as a crop to carry or hold liquids which can be regurgitated later.

Respiratory System
The respiratory system is composed of air sacs and tubes called tracheae. Air enters the tubes through a series of openings called spiracles found along the sides of the body. The largest spiracles are usually found on the thorax where greater musculature from wings and legs require more oxygen. There are no spiracles on the head.

tracheal tubes

spiracles

Respiratory System

Circulatory System
heart aortic pumps

Circ system

The circulatory system is not composed of a central heart, veins and arteries which circulate blood cells and transport oxygen. The insect circulatory system is a simple tube down the back which is open at both ends and slowly pulses body fluids and nutrients from the rear of the insect to the head.

Insects have a less centralized nervous system than humans. The nerve chord runs along the ventral or bottom aspect of an insect. The brain is divided into two main parts. The largest lobes control important areas such as the eyes, antennae, and mouthparts. Other major concentrations of nerve bundles called ganglia occur along the nerve chord and usually control those body functions closest to it.

two lobed brain Nervous system

(ganglia) nerve bundles

Nervous System

 Gonads (testes) Paired, bilaterally arranged Site of spermatogenesis Contain multiple sperm tubes Housed in peritoneal sheath Transfer structures Vas efferens Vas deferens Seminal vesicles Aedeagus and ejaculatory duct

an aedeagus (penis),which is sclerotized and may be intricate

 Gonads

Lateral oviducts
Median oviduct Genital chamber

Spermathecal structures
Accessory glands

 Oviparity

Egg laid shortly after fertilization No retention No nutrients to embryo after fertilization

 Eggs retained until embryogenesis complete

Example: many Aphids

 Eggs retained and Embryo fed by mother Immatures may complete development before deposition Examples: Strepsipterans, Tsetse fly

Moulting (molting)
Molting is the process by which insects grow. The exoskeleton of the insects is basically their underlying bone structure that is located on the outside of their bodies with corresponding organs and muscles located underneath this hard shell. So in order for the insect to grow or to increase in size, the insect must shed its current skin in favor of the new skin underneath.

recently molted roach

Cicada molting

Moulting (Molting)

Life Cycles

The many diverse orders of insects have four different types of life cycles. These life cycles are called "metamorphosis" because of the changes of shape that the insects undergo during development.

egg

Without Metamorphosis
nymphs adult

The first type is "without" metamorphosis which the wingless primitive orders such as silverfish (Thysanura) and springtails (Collembola) possess. The young resemble adults except for size.

Incomplete Metamorphosis

The second type is "incomplete" metamorphosis which is found among the aquatic insect orders such as mayflies (Ephemeroptera) and dragonflies (Odonata).

Gradual Metamorphosis
The third type is "gradual" metamorphosis seen in such orders as the grasshoppers (Orthoptera), termites (Isoptera), thrips (Thysanoptera), and true bugs (Hemiptera). This life cycle starts as an egg, but each growth, or nymphal stage looks similar, except it lacks wings and the reproductive capacity that the adult possesses.

Complete Metamorphosis
The fourth type is "complete" metamorphosis found in butterflies (Lepidoptera), beetles (Coleoptera), flies (Diptera), and bees, wasps, and ants (Hymenoptera). This life cycle has the four stages of egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Each stage is quite distinct.

 Order Microcoryphia Order Zygentoma Order Odonata Order Plecoptera

Order Megaloptera Order Raphidioptera Order Neuroptera Order Coleoptera

Order Phasmida
Order Orthoptera Order Notoptera Order Dermaptera Order Mantodea Order Blattodea Order Zoraptera Order Psocodea Order Hemiptera

Order Hymenoptera
Order Trichoptera Order Lepidoptera Order Mecoptera Order Diptera Order Strepsiptera Order Siphonaptera Order Protorthoptera Order Thysanoptera

Economic Importance
In Research Model organism in genetics and bioprospecting sources of pharmaceuticals. Drosophila melanogaster is one of the most studied organisms in biological research, particularly in genetics and developmental biology. In Agriculture Because they help flowering plants to cross-pollinate, some insects are critical to agriculture. This European honey bee is gathering nectar while pollen collects on its body.

DISEASE AGENTS Diseases provide natural population control, helping to control overpopulation or overexploitation of natural resources.

Swarm of black flies

Insect Pest Control Insectivorous insect, or insects which feed on other insects, are beneficial to humans because they eat insects that could cause damage to agriculture and human structures.

A robber fly with its prey, a hoverfly. Insectivorous relationships such as these help control insect populations.

Parasitic wasps are increasingly used in agricultural pest control as they prey mostly on pest insects and have little impact on crops.

Caterpillar and Braconoid Wasp larvae