InsectsInsects

Class: InsectaClass: Insecta

Body divided into three Body divided into three partsparts

• HeadHead

• ThoraxThorax

• AbdomenAbdomen

HeadThoraxAbdomen

Attached to the headAttached to the head

• Two types of eyesTwo types of eyes– Simple eyes – small eyes above Simple eyes – small eyes above

compound eyes for sensing light and compound eyes for sensing light and darkdark

– Compound eyes – large eyes made of Compound eyes – large eyes made of many facets used for detecting many facets used for detecting movement and light.movement and light.

• Two antennaTwo antenna

Appendages are attached to Appendages are attached to the thoraxthe thorax

• Three pairs of legsThree pairs of legs

• Usually have 2 or 4 Usually have 2 or 4 wingswings

AbdomenAbdomen

• RespirationRespiration– Breath through a system of air tubes in Breath through a system of air tubes in

the abdomen.the abdomen.– Air enters through spiracles or tiny holes Air enters through spiracles or tiny holes

in the side of the abdomenin the side of the abdomen

Obtaining FoodObtaining Food

• Eat almost anything that is living or Eat almost anything that is living or once was livingonce was living

• Mouthparts are adapted for a specific Mouthparts are adapted for a specific way to get foodway to get food

Life CycleLife Cycle

MetamorphosisMetamorphosis – change in – change in appearance due to appearance due to developmentdevelopment• Complete Complete

metamorphosis – metamorphosis – offspring offspring DO NOTDO NOT resemble parentsresemble parents– EggEgg– LarvaLarva– Pupa (enclosed in a Pupa (enclosed in a

protected case)protected case)– AdultAdult

• Incomplete/Gradual Incomplete/Gradual metamorphosis – metamorphosis – young look like young look like small adults but small adults but lack wings and lack wings and reproductive organsreproductive organs– EggEgg– Nymph Nymph – AdultAdult

Insect EcologyInsect Ecology

• Food ChainFood Chain – a series – a series of events in which of events in which one organism eats one organism eats another and obtains another and obtains energy.energy.

• EcologyEcology – the study – the study of organisms and of organisms and how they interact how they interact with the environmentwith the environment

Insects and Food ChainsInsects and Food Chains

• Food chains start with Food chains start with producers producers – – organisms that make their own food.organisms that make their own food.

• Producers are eaten by Producers are eaten by consumers consumers – – an organism that gets energy by an organism that gets energy by eating other organismseating other organisms

• The final part of a food chain is a The final part of a food chain is a decomposerdecomposer – an organism that – an organism that breaks down waste and dead bodiesbreaks down waste and dead bodies

Controlling pestsControlling pests

1.1. Pesticides-chemicals that kill pests Pesticides-chemicals that kill pests that may destroy cropsthat may destroy crops

2.2. Biological controls-natural predators Biological controls-natural predators or a disease used to combat pestsor a disease used to combat pests