Internal Anatomy

Development
Insect Orders
January 22, 2014

External Anatomy Review

Grasshopper Anatomy Video

Internal Anatomy

Musculature

All muscles in the insect are striated

They are attached to the body wall
internally, generally in antagonistic
pairs

Antagonistic- to work oppositely

Very strong, some insects can move

20x body weight

Digestive System

Most insects take in food through their

mouth
Saliva is usually added to the food by
the labial glands

Labial gland is a salivary or silk gland near

the mouth

Insect digestive tract is a tube,

mouthanus
Three sections, forgut, midgut, hindgut

Digestive System

Foregut includes:

Pharynx- anterior part of foregut

Esophagus- narrow portion of
alimentary tract right behind the
pharynx

Digestive System

Foregut includes:

Crop- the dilated posterior portion of

foregut

Specialized for temporary storage of food

Proventriculus- valve between foregut

and midgut

Regulates food flow into the midgut

Digestive System

Midgut- primary site for digestion

Epithelium of midgut secretes digestive

enzymes and absorbs nutrients

Digestive System

Midgut includes:

Peritrophic matrix (some species)

separates food from gut wall

Made of chitin, permeable

Role is unclear, but may protect gut tissue

from physical damage from food particles

May protect against uptake of pathogens

Digestive System

Midgut ends with:

Pyloric valve separates midgut from

hindgut, regulates food movement.

Digestive System

Hindgut- final site for reabsorption

of water, salts

Generally differentiated into two

regions, Intestine & Rectum

Digestive System

Hindgut also includes:

Malpighian tubules arise from the

anterior hindgut and extend into the
body of the insect, remove wastes from
hemolymph and empty into hindgut
(excretory organs)

Digestive System

Digestive system varies considerably

Antlion

Ground
Beetle

Caterpillar Grasshop Springtail

per

Foregut

Midgut

Hindgut

Circulatory System

Insects use hemolymph as blood

Principle function is to transport

nutrients, hormones, waste
Minor role in O2 and CO2 transport
Involved in osmoregulation, the balance
of salts and water in the body
Reservoir for water, fats, carbohydrates
Cockroach Dissection
Hemolymph video

Circulatory System

Open system, ie blood flows freely

inside the body, not in blood vessels
The main blood vessel is dorsal to
the alimentary tract (above)

Posterior part of blood vessel has valves,

ie. heart
Ostia are holes to draw hemolymph into
heart

Circulatory System

Hemolymph also serves a

skeletal role

Pumped into wings to expand them after

eclosion

Protrusion of eversible structures

Respiratory System

Gas transport is the function of the

tracheal system
Tracheae are tubes that branch and
carry air from the spiracles to the
organs

Tracheoles are at the ends of tracheae,

they are fine branches of tubes that
directly contact the organs

Respiratory System

Spiracles can have valves to open

and close them
Open tracheal system- have
functional spiracles that open and
close to allow for transfer of oxygen
in, carbon dioxide out of the body,
and conservation of water

Respiratory System

Closed tracheal systems- have

permanently closed spiracles, the
network of tracheae may be just
underneath the body surface or they
may extend from the body as
Dobsonfly larva
tracheal
gills

Many types of aquatic insects fit this

category

Nervous System
Central nervous system of insect
consists of three parts:
1.

2.

3.

subesophageal ganglion- controls

mouthparts and salivary glands
ventral nerve cord- composed of
ganglion that control the rest of the
body
Brain which consists of three parts:

Protocerebrum- controls compound eyes

and ocelli Nerve Cord Video

Nervous System
Protocerebru
m
Tritocerebrum

Dorsal Nerve
Cord, consisting
of ganglia

Gut tract

Deutocerebru
m

Subesophageal
Ganglion

Posteri
or

Anterio
r
Nerve Cord Video

Reproductive system

Female reproductive
anatomy includes:

Pair of ovaries-egg
producing organ of
the female

Ovaries consist of
multiple ovarioles,
typically 4-8, but can
range between species
from 1-200.

Reproductive System Video

A system of

Reproductive system

Female reproductive
anatomy includes:

The oviducts join to

the common
oviduct leading to
the vagina
The vagina extends
to the outside of the
body

Ovipore-Reproductive
opening System Video
through which eggs

Reproductive system

Female reproductive
anatomy includes:

Accessory glands
may secrete adhesive
secretions for laying
eggs, or protective
material to cover egg
mass once laid
Spermatheca- a
structure to hold
sperm for Reproductive
later use.System Video

Reproductive system

Male reproductive
anatomy includes:

Pair of gonads, the

testes

Consists of sperm
tubes where sperm is
made

Reproductive System Video

Reproductive system

Male reproductive
anatomy includes:

Ducts to the outside

Sperm tubes
connect to vas
efferens, a tube
that transfers the
sperm to the larger
tube, the vas
deferens

Vas deferens
unit to
Reproductive System Video
form the

Reproductive system

Male reproductive
anatomy includes:

Seminal vesiclestorage area for

sperm before use
Accessory Glands
secrete fluids to carry
sperm or form a
sperm-containing
capsule, a
Reproductive System Video
spermatophore

Sex Determination

Sex determination in insects

Chromosomes usually occur in pairs,

diploid

In one sex , one pair of chromosomes do

not match or are represented by one
chromosome only

Heterogametic- In most insects, males are

represented by one X chromosome

XO -only one X chromosome

XY one X chromosome and a second that is

different in shape or size

Homogametic- In most insects, the female is

represented by two X chromosomes, XX

Sex Determination

Sex determination, exceptions

to the rule:

One exception is Lepidoptera

(Butterflies and Moths) where the
female is heterogametic and the
male is homogametic
In hymenoptera (Ants, wasps,
etc), sex is determined by ploidy,
numbers of copies of
chromosomes (ie. Pairs)

Males are typically haploid, have

single copies of chromosomes

Eggs

Eggs are covered with a shell, varies

in shape, color, thickness, and
sculpturing
Most eggs are laid in a situation
where the young will have shelter
and suitable conditions for
development (ie. Food)

Many herbivores lay eggs on or in the

right type of food plant
Some eggs are laid in the ground, ie.
crickets & grasshoppers

Eggs

Many insects enclose eggs in

capsules

Mantids

Cockroaches

Gypsy Moths

Hatching is called eclosion

Eggs

A young insect may

escape from the egg in
various ways

Insects with mandibulate

mouthparts chew out of
egg
Egg-bursters- are
spinelike, knifelike, or
sawlike projections on the
head

Post Embryonic Growth

Exoskeletons are rigid and prevent

growth

must therefore be periodically shed and

replace with a larger one
The process involves digesting portions
of the old cuticle and synthesizing new
cuticle, called molting
Culminates in ecdysis, or shedding of
the old cuticle.

Post Embryonic Growth

Molting also involves shedding of

other parts

Linings of the tracheae

Foregut

Hindgut

The cast-off exoskeleton resembles

the shape of the insect, called an
exuviae

Post Embryonic Growth

The newly eclosed, (molted,

hatched, or emerged), insect is pale
and cuticle is soft
Within an hour or two, the cuticle will
harden
In this time period, the insect will
expand to its full size by taking in air
or water
Cicada molting

Wings, if present, will expand by

Post Embryonic Growth

The number of molts varies in most

insects, usually 4-8.
Some Odonata undergo 10-12 molts,
and some Ephemeroptera up to 28
The stage in between molts is called
an instar and are numbered.

Metamorphosis

Most insects change in form, not all

instars are alike, this process is called
metamorphosis

Complete
metamorphosis- a
quiescent stage
precedes the last molt

Simple
metamorphosisthere is no quiescent
stage preceding the
last molt

Metamorphosis

Simple metamorphosis

Young insects are called nymphs, look

similar to the adults

Ie. Crickets, grasshoppers, mantids

If compound eyes are present in the

adult, then they are present in the
nymph
If the adults are winged, the wings
appear as budlike outgrowths in earlier
instars

Metamorphosis

Simple metamorphosis types:

Ametabolous- no metamorphosis,
wingless adults, only difference between
adults and nymps is size.
Paurometabolous-gradual
metamorphoris, adults are winged,
nymphs and adults live in the same
habitat, changes to size, body
proportions, and other structures
Hemimetabolous- incomplete

Metamorphosis
Complete metamorphosis

Immature insects go through radical

changes to proceed to adult stage
Immatures are wormlike and called
larva
Larval instars differ in size but are
relatively the same in appearance
Larvae generally have chewing
mouthparts, regardless of the type of
mouthparts the adult will have

Metamorphosis
Complete metamorphosis

Following the last instar, the

insect transforms into a pupa
Sometimes the pupa is covered
by a cocoon
May over winter in the pupal
stage
The final molt is at the end of the
pupal stage where the adult
ecloses from the puparium

Metamorphosis
Complete metamorphosis

Some types of parasitoid insects

undergo hypermetamorphosis

where the first instar are highly active in

seeking a host

Subsequent instars that occur within a host

are less active

Diptera
(Flies)

Includes mosquitos, horse

and deer flies, crane flies,
robber flies, and hover
flies
Single pair of wings, hind
wings are almost
completely absent
Most have
sucking/sponging
mouthparts

Ephemeroptera
(Mayflies)

Order means to live

but a day
Simple
metamorphosis
Frenzied mating
swarms, copulate
during flight
Females lay eggs on
objects submerged

Odonata
(Dragonflies and
Huge compound
Damselflies)
eyes

Dragonfly holds
wings
horizontally
Damselfly holds
wings along body
Nymphs are
aquatic, called

Orthoptera
(Grasshoppers, crickets,
Simple Metamorphosis
kaytdids)
Hindlegs have large femurs for
jumping

Leathery forewings, membranous

hindwings
Many are vegetarian, some
cannibalize, some scavengers
Sound is very important in courtship

Some rub legs against wings, or wings

Phasmatodea
(Walking sticks and leaf
Simple metamorphosis
insects)

They can reproduce by

parthenogenesis, eggs scattered to
the ground
Usually herbivorous
Mimic twigs and leaves, even sway
in the wind
They do NOT have elongated femurs
for jumping (like

Dermaptera
(Earwigs)

They do not crawl

into your ears.

Forcep like cerci,

appendages at the
posterior end of the
abdomen, can pinch!
Adults may be
winged or wingless
Mostly nocturnal

Plecoptera
(Stoneflies)

Plecoptera means
folded wings

Long antenna, and long

cerci at the end of
abdomen
Very poor flyers
Simple metamorphosis,
nymph is an aquatic
naiad

Isoptera
(Termites)

Cellulose eating,
social insects

Morphologically
differentiated into
casts: workers,
soldiers,
reproductives
Simple
Metamorphosis

Mantodea
(Mantids)

Rather slow moving

insects

Modified prothorax, very

long and movably
attached to the
pterothroax
Highly predacious on
other insects, sit and wait
for prey

Blattodea
(Cockroaches)
Run very fast
Body is oval and
flattened
Wings are generally
present
Primarily tropical insects
Only a few species are
pests, ie the German
cockroach

Hemiptera
(True bugs, psyllids)

Unifying characteristic are the

piercing sucking type mouthparts,
usually for sucking sap

Typically simple metamorphosis

Some transmit plant diseases

Simple Metamorphosis

Lepidoptera
(Butterflies and Moths)

Complete Metamorphosis

Lepidoptera means scale wing,

wings are covered in tiny scales
At rest, most butterflies hold wings
vertically, moths hold wings flattened
along body
All butterflies are active during day,
most moths at night

Homoptera
(cicadas, hoppers, whiteflies,
scales,
and
Piercing
sucking
typeaphids)

mouthparts

Feed exclusively on plants

Simple metamorphosis

Coleoptera
(Beetles)

Sheathed wings, forewings

hardened and called
elytra
All beetles have chewing
mouthparts
Most are herbivores, some
scavengers or predators
Beetles constitute about
40% of all known insects,

Neuroptera
(Alderflies, Dobsonflies, Fishflies,
Snakeflies, Lacewings, Antlions, Owlflies)
Fishfly

net veined insects due to

their densely veined wings

Adults are weak fliers

Mandibulate mouthparts

Lacewing

Antlion fly

Complete
Mantidfly
metamorphosis

Dobsonfly

Snakefly

Antennae are long, cerci

are absent from abdomen

Hymenoptera
(Wasps, Bees, Sawflies,
Considered theAnts)
most advanced

insects because some exhibit social

behavior

Some are parasitoids (not social) and

their young develop inside another
animal
Two pairs of wings, if wings are
present
All undergo complete

Trichoptera
(Caddisflies)

Complete metamorphosis
Adults are moth-like, but lack wing
scales
Larvae are aquatic and are
caterpillar-like
Known for their aquatic larval habit
of building protective portable cases
by cementing sand and debris or
spinning nets out of silk

Siphonaptera
(Fleas)

Small, wingless,

Complete Metamorphosis

Adults of Almost all species depend

on blood meals from warm blooded
vertebrates
Larval form are free-living and feed
on organic material in the larval
habitat

Mecoptera
(Scorpionflies, Hangingflies)

Common name is derived from the

males of some species that have a
bulbous genital segment, resembling
a scorpions stinger

They do not sting, harmless

Complete metamorphosis

Other Insect Orders Not

Covered

Thysanoptera -thrips

Strepsiptera- twisted wing parasites

Protura

Collembola- springtails

Diplura

Microcoryphia- jumping bristle tails

Thysanura

Mantophasmatodea