Distinguishing characteristics

of insects
Distinguishing characteristics of insects
Insect, (class Insecta or Hexapoda), any
member of the largest class of the
phylum Arthropoda, which is itself the largest
of the animal phyla. Insects have segmented
bodies, jointed legs, and external skeletons
(exoskeletons). Insects are distinguished from
other arthropods by their body, which is
divided into three major regions:
1) The head, which bears the mouthparts, eyes,
and a pair of antennae,
2) The three-segmented thorax, which usually
has three pairs of legs (hence “Hexapoda”) in
adults and usually one or two pairs of wings,
and
3) The many-segmented abdomen, which
contains the digestive, excretory, and
reproductive organs.
General features
In numbers of species and individuals and in adaptability
and wide distribution, insects are perhaps the most
eminently successful group of all animals. They dominate
the present-day land fauna with about 1 million described
species. This represents about three-fourths of all described
animal species. Entomologists estimate the actual number
of living insect species could be as high as 5 million to 10
million. The orders that contain the greatest numbers of
species are Coleoptera (beetles), Lepidoptera (butterflies
and moths), Hymenoptera (ants, bees, wasps),
and Diptera (true flies).
Distinguishing characteristics of insects
Insects may be distinguished from
the other arthropods by the
following characters:
1. Body with three distinct regions:
HEAD, THORAX and ABDOMEN
2. One pair of antennae
3. Three pairs of legs (a few insects
are legless and some larvae
posses additional leglike
appendages (such as prolegs) on
the abdominal segments.
Distinguishing characteristics of insects
4. Often one or two pair of
wings, borne by the second
and/or the third of the three
thoracic segments
5. The pastoral appendages of
the head typically consisting
of mandibles, a pair of
maxillae, labrum and labium.
The Insect Body Wall
Composed of three parts
Epidermal cell
• Cellular layer of the body wall, secretes
molting fluid involved in the growth
process.
Cuticle
• Non-cellular layer of the body wall; covers
the the entire body surface and also lines
the insects’ air tube lining, salivary glands
and parts of the digestive tracts.
The Insect Body Wall
3 layers of cuticle:
1. Epicuticle
• Outermost thin layer which contains
cuticulin, wax and cement.
2. Exocuticle
• Middle part which gives the cuticle its
characteristics strength and resilience; it is
formed of chitin (a resistant substance
insoluble to water, alcohol, alkali and
dilute acids.
The Insect Body Wall

3. Endocuticle
• Innermost thick layer cuticle.

4. Basement membrane
• Separates body wall from internal
organs
Head Comprises the globular to capsule like
anterior body segment of an insect which
bears the eyes, antennae and
mouthparts
Classification based on head position in
relation to the long axis of the body
1. Hypognathous head – condition
wherein the mouthparts are the right
angle to the body axis
Examples: grasshoppers, roaches,
mantids
Head Comprises the globular to capsule like
anterior body segment of an insect which
bears the eyes, antennae and
mouthparts
Classification based on head position in
relation to the long axis of the body
Hypognathous head
• Condition wherein the mouthparts are
the right angle to the body axis
Examples: Grasshoppers, Roaches,
Mantids
Head Ospignathous head
• Condition wherein the mouthparts are
projecting backward between legs
Examples: cicada, bugs, leafhoppers
Prognathous head
• Mouthparts is in line to the body axis

• Commonly seen in carnivours and/or

forms that burrow in wood soil
Examples: Termites, Ground beetle
Mouthparts Vary in type depending on the kind of food
the insects eat.
The following are the mouthparts of insects:
Mandibles
• Tooth-like structure used for chewing,
grinding, tearing or pinching-off solid food. A
set of jaws that move laterally, meaning side-
to-side.
Labium
• Heavily sclerotized, paired and unsegmented
Mouthparts Maxillae

• Helps in putting the food into the

mouth . A second set of smaller,
segmented claws that are used to
manipulate food for the insect.
Mastication and lie directly behind the
mandibles
Mouthparts Labrum
• “upper lip” which is movable and flap-like
structure. A single plate that forms the
'upper lip' of sorts. It's used to protect the
other mouthparts and bring food into the
mouth.
Labium
• “lower lip” found posterior to the maxillae.
This mouth part is used to close the mouth.
Mouthparts Hypopharynx

• A central tounge like which drops from the

membranous floor of the head and bears
the opening of the salivary ducts.
Types of insects mouthparts
Mandibulate or chewing type
• The mandibles cut off and grinds
solid food, and the maxillae and
labium push it into the esophagus
Cutting-sponging type
• The mandibles are produced into
sharp blades, and the maxillae into
long probing style
Types of insects mouthparts
Sponging type
• The mandibles and maxillae are
non-functional and the remaining
parts form a proboscis with a
sponge-lie apex called labella.
Peircing-sucking type
• The mouthparts of this group are
modified to pierce tissues and suck
juices from them.
Types of insects mouthparts
Siphoning type
• The food either nectar of liquid food
already are sucked up by the means
of a long proboscis composed only of
a united galea of each maxillae.
Examples: moths and butterflies
Rasping-sucking type
• Has a cone-shaped beak formed from
clypeus, labrum, parts of maxillae
and labium.
Antennae
 Elongated, segmented structures
of varying designs and sizes
 Are used for sensory purposes
and sometimes for defence
Three main parts of antennae:
1. Scape – basal segment

2. Pedicel – second segment

3. Flagellum – whiplike part

beyond the pedicel
Types of Antennae
Setaceous (Whip like or bristle like)
• Bristle like Noticeable decrease in the
size of segments from the base to the
apex, so that the antenna tapers from
a rather thick base to a very slender
tip.
E.g. Cockroach, dragonflies and
damselflies
Types of Antennae
Filiform (Thread like)
• Thread like Segments nearly uniform
in size Usually cylindrical and have no
prominent constructions at the joints.
• Eg. Grasshopper, Ground and long
horned beetles.
Types of Antennae
Moniliform (like string of beads)
• Like a string of beads, Segments
similar in size and more or less
spherical or globular in shape
With prominent constrictions
between them.
E.g. Termite.
Types of Antennae
Clavate (clubbed)
• Club shaped, the segments
increasing in diameter gradually
towards the tip.
E.g. Butterfly, Carrion beetles
Types of Antennae
Capitate (clubbed like)
• Knobbed, last three segments are suddenly
enlarged.
E.g. Red flour beetle.
Pectinate (Comb like)
• Comb like, most segments with longer slender
lateral processes on one side
Eg. Female Arctid moths,Fire coloured beetles
Types of Antennae
Serrate (Saw like)
• Saw like or saw-toothed, segments
have short triangular projections to
one side. E.g. Pulse Beatle.
Geniculate (Elbowed)
• Elbowed, has a sharp bend like a
flexed arm the first segment long and
following segments small. E.g. Honey
bee and Ants
Types of Antennae
Lamellate (Leaf like).

• The enlargement at the end is almost

entirely towards one side from the
axis of the antenna and forms broad,
some what flattened plates.

E.g. Dung roller, Rhinoceros beetle

Types of Antennae Plumose (Brush like with dense hairs)
• Whorls of hairs arise from each joint
of the segment. Each whorl contains a
number of hairs. Plumose antennae
have a feather-like shape. Eg. Male
mosquito
Aristate
• Small, microscopic Third segment
enlarged and bears a bristle called
arista on its dorsal side
Types of Antennae
Stylate

• The last segment bearing an

elongate terminal style like or
finger like process, the style

E.g. Robber fly.

  The middle region of the insect
Thorax body which is connected from the
head by a flexible membranous
neck (cervix)
 Contains 3 distinct segments:
prothorax, mesothorax and
metathotax
 Each thoracic segment bears a pair
of jointed legs, and most adult
insects the mesothorax and
metathorax each have a pair of
wings
Thorax
 Each thoracic segment is composed
of hardened plates that give it
rigidity, such as:

a. Notum – upper plate

b. Sternum – lower plate

c. Pleuron – side/lateral plate

  Are articulated appendages
Legs comprising five segments
Coxa
• The proximal segment that is usually
short and stout
Trochanter
• Connects the coxa with the femur
Femur
• The stoutest and sometime the
largest segment of the leg, in some
instances, it is armed with strong
spines
Legs
Tibia
• Is often a long, slender structure
with downward pinting spinest
that aid in climbing.
Tarsus
• Usually made up of several
subsegments called tarsomeres,
terminate in pretarsus.
Types of insects legs:
Raptorial legs
• Grasping forelegs of preying mantis.
Cursorial legs
• Running legs of roaches.
Fossorial legs
• Digging forelegs of mole crickets.
Saltatorial legs
• Jumping hindlegs of grsshoppers and
fleas.
Types of insects legs:
• Natatorial legs swimming legs of
aquatic insects.

• Pollen basket for gathering pollen

hindlegs of honeybees.

• Clinging legs of lice.

• Clasping legs of aquatic beetles.

  Insect wings show much diversity,,
Wings varying in shape, texture, and coloration.
Some specific types of wings are used to
identify insect orders such as:
Elytra – forewing of beetles ( Coleoptera)
 Are thick and hard with uniform texture
which is used to protect the soft
abdomen
Hemelytra – forewing of true bugs
( Hemiptera)
 Are a combination of thick and soft,
flexible and almost transparent apes or
posterior part.
 Membranous type – wings of caddisflies
Wings (Trichoptera)
 Rare soft, flexible, translucent or
transparent with prominent wing veins.
Halteres – hindwings of flies and
mosquitoes (Diptera)
 Are small knob-like structures which are
use for balancing instead of flight
Tegmina – forewing of grasshoppers,
roaches (Orthiotera)
 Are leathery frontwings which serves to
protect the membranous hindwings
and soft abdomen.
Orders of Insects
Abdomen
This is the third body region
and usually the largest part
especially among females
- It is primarily for
reproduction, exertion and
digestion because the
abdomen bears genitalia, the
anus, outwardly, and the
digestive system inside
respectively.
Other important parts of the abdomen:
Spiracles
• These are the external
openings of the respiratory
system found along the side of
the thorax and the abdomen
Tympanum or “air”
• This is located on the first
abdominal tergite in a
grasshoppers but may be
found elsewhere in the body
of other insects.
Other important parts of the abdomen:

Cerci

• Slender, pointed structures

found on the eleventh
segment of the abdomen.