Unit
Insect
Introduction
• Entomology is a branch of zoology that deals with the study of
insects.
• The term is derived from the Greek word Entomon = Insects and
logos = study.
• Agricultural Entomology deals with the study of insects that affect
agriculture.
• There are other branches of entomology, such as medical
entomology, veterinary entomology, and forensic entomology (study
of insects inhabiting decomposing remains).
• With over one million different species inhabiting the earth, insects
make up more than 80% of all described animal species and form a
major component of the earth's biodiversity.
• They have different roles: as plant consumers and herbivores, food source
for other organisms, scavengers and detritivores (feeding on decomposing
organic matter), predators and parasites
• The word insect is derived from Latin word ‘insectum’ which means ‘to cut
into’.
• Insects occupy 2/3rd of total population of Phylum Arthropoda
Classification
• Classification is the grouping of
objects based on similarities (or
resemblance and differences) in
morphological and biological
characters or attributes.
Kingdom- Animal
Phylum – Arthropoda
Class – Insecta
Order – Lepidoptera
(Butterflies and moths)
Family – Noctuidae
Genus – Helicoverpa
Species – armigera
Arthropoda (from Greek words arthros = jointed, podos = foot)
• It is the largest phylum in the Animal Kingdom. Arthropods are segmented animals
which have jointed appendages.
All arthropods possess:
Body is divided into head, thorax and abdomen. Sometimes head and thorax are
united together to form cephalothorax.
Exoskeleton - a hard protective covering around the outside of the body (divided
by sutures into plates called sclerites)
Segmented body
Jointed limbs and jointed mouthparts - that allow extensive specialization
Bilateral symmetry - whereby a central line can divide the
body into two identical halves, left and right
Nervous system is fully developed.
Dorsal blood pump (open blood vascular system are
found).
Alimentary canal is complete. Mouthparts are present
around the mouth which is used in puncturing, sucking and
chewing.
Excretion takes place by Malpighian tubules.
The classes of Arthropodas are
• Class: Arachnida (arachnids):
Arachnids possess:
Terrestrial, 2 body segments - cephalothorax and abdomen
4 pairs of legs, simple eyes, respiratioin is done by gills or
lungs no antennae
• Eg. spiders, scorpions, ticks, mites, etc
• Class: Chilopoda (centipedes)
Chilopods are quick moving predators with poison glands which
possess:
Terrestrial in habitat, body is long, flattened and multi-
segmented 1 pair of legs per body segment
1 pair of antennae
1st pair of legs modified into venomous
“fangs” Animals are unisexual.
• E.g. Centipedes
• Class: Diplopoda (millipedes)
Diplopods are slow moving vegetarians which possess:
Many body segments, long and cylindrical.
2 pair of legs per body segment
1 pair of antennae
• E.g.: millipedes
• Class: Crustacea (crustaceans):
Mostly aquatic, free living parasites.
Two body regions – Cephalothorax and abdomen
pairs of antennae
Varied number of legs (usually five)
Respiration is done by skin or by gills.
Excretion is done by green glands.
Mostly unisexual.
• Eg crabs, shrimp, barnacles, sow
bugs, etc.
• Class: Insecta (Insects)
3 body segments
6 legs
1 pair of antennae
Most flying insects possess two pairs of wings
• Eg. beetles, bugs, wasps, moths, flies, etc.
Characters of Class insecta:
• Body divided in to 3 segments: head, thorax and
abdomen
• Possess three pairs of legs, hence the name Hexapoda
• Presence of one or two pairs of wings
• A pair of antennae
• Respiration by means of internal air tubes known as
trachea
• Genital opening situated at the posterior end of the body
• Presence of metamorphosis (incomplete/complete) during development
• Possess exoskeleton made up of hard cuticle which plays important role for
survival.
• Excretion is mainly by malpighian tubules which help in maintaining ionic
balance
Feeding Habit of Insect:
Mouth Parts
• Mouth parts of insect are divided into two group according to the type of
feeding habit.
Mandibulate Type: It is primitive type of mouth in which bitting of food
first and chewing is done by moving mandible and maxillae. Eg.
Grasshopper, Cockroach.
Haustellate Type: Some or all part of mouth is elongated to suck fluid
from object. Eg. Aphid, Mosquito.
Feeding Habit of
Insect
• Feeding habit and technique of insect pest management can be
correlated. Feeding habit of insect depends upon the mouth parts which
vary according to the taxa of insect.
• Mouth parts of insect consist of following parts:
• Labrum – 1 upper lip
• Mandible – 2 upper jaws
• Maxillae – 2 lower jaws
• Labium – 1 lower lip
• Hypopharynx – 1 tongue
Modification of
Mouthparts
A. Biting and Chewing Type:
This is generalized primitive mouthpart, it is modified to cut off , grind and
shallow solid food. Eg. Grasshopper, Larvae of moth and butterfly.
B. Piercing and Sucking Type:
This type are modified to a needle type to pierce and suck plant sap or blood. They are
also called drinkers E.g. Mosquito, Bug
C. Chewing and Lapping Type:
In this type, mandible and labrum are of chewing type and used for grasping prey and
molding wax or nest materials. Eg. Honeybee, Wasp
D. Siphoning Type:
There is elongated and style like to form highly specialized proboscis for
sucking flower nectar. Eg. Butterfly
E. Sponging Type:
The mouth part are modified for sucking up the liquid fluid like a
sponge.
Eg. Housefly
F. Rasping and sucking Type/ Lacerating type:
These type of insects have modified mouth part to form the stylet.
The mouth parts is asymmetrical and is mostly found in Thrips.
Life Cycle of
Insect
Some Terminologies are
• Metamorphosis: The development process by which the first stage of
insect immature stage reach into the mature stage. It is process of
development of egg to larvae, Larvae to Pupae and Pupae and adult.
• Molting: It is the process of casting (Shedding) of old cuticle of insect and
formation of new cuticle.
• Instar: Insects passes through various developmental stage in it’s life cycle.
Each development stage of insect is called instar.
Types of
Metamorphosis
A. Ametabola (No Metamorphosis)
• This type of metamorphosis occurs in Apterygota insect like silverfish.
• There are three developmental stages like egg, young and adult.
• The immature stage does not differ from that of adult stage (Differs only in
size and gonadial development.)
B. Paurometabola:
• It is also known as gradual metamorphosis.
• The immature stage is known as nymph.
• The immature stage more or less similar (presence of compound
eye) to that of adult but there is some distinguishable character
(such as nymphs may lack wing) between them.
• The stages are: Egg to Nymph to Adult
• Examples are: Grasshopper, Bug, Termites, Cockroach
C. Hemimetabola:
It is also known as Incomplete metamorphosis.
The immature stage is known as naiad.
The immature stage possesses aquatic habitat and that bears
gills.
That immature stage differ quite from the adult stage.
The stages are Egg to Naid and to Adult.
Eg are Dragon flies and mosquito.
EGG
ADULT
D. Holometabolous
This is also known as complete
metamorphosis.
This type of metamorphosis occurs in
endopterygote insects.
The stages are Egg to Larvae to Puapae
to Adult stage of development.
Examples are Butterfly, Moths, Beetles
Holometabola
Eggs: May be laid singly or in group by adult female inside the ground or
in leaves or aquatic.
Larva: Larva are generally hairy and active feeding stage. They cut, bite
or suck the plants and cause serious damage.
Pupa: Hibernating stage for further growth and development. Not
harmful to the plants
Adult: Fully developed adult male/female. Lays eggs. Many are
harmful to plants
Insect and Their
Order B. Subclass: Pterygota (Super Order:
A. Subclass: Apterygota (No wings) Exopetraygota), Wings develop externally
• Thysanura: Silverfish • Ephemeroptera: Mayflies
• Diplura: Two prolonged bristle tail • Homoptera: Aphids and Whitefly
• Protura: Proturans • Hemipetra: Bug
• Collembola: Springtails • Orthoptera: Grasshopper and Cricket
• Odonata: Dragonflies
• Isoptera: Terminites, White ant
Subclass: Pterygota (Super Order: Endopetraygota), Wings develop
externally
• Lepidoptera: Butterfly and moth
• Coleoptera: Beetles
• Diptera: Flies
• Hymenoptera: Bee and Wasp
Some
insect
Their
with
Orde
r
Harmful Insects
• Many insects causes damage to the
crops.
• These are beetle, bugs, aphids,
caterpillars etc.
Beneficial
Insects
• The beneficial insects are
Honeybee, silkworm, and lac
insects.
• The predators insects are Mantis,
Lady bird beetle, Assassin Bug,
Tiger beetle etc.
• The parasitoids are
Ichnemonoid
wasp.
Conclusion
• The branch of science that deals with study of insect is called entomology.
• Different order of insect and classification of insect is studied.
Thank You
