Insect Structure and Function

Insect Body

Insect's bodies are covered by an exoskeleton. This exoskeleton provides support and protection to the underlying living tissues. It is 'acellular' so is secreted by underlying epidermis. The outer layer is called the epicuticle which is composed of proteins and covered by a waxy layer. The inner layers are the endocuticle and exocuticle which are composed of protein and chitin. An insect's body is metameric (divided into segments). The segments include; head, body and abdomen. The segments are linked by articular membranes, allowing movement.

Insect Head

Alan Hadley

Alan Hadley

Blowfly Head Close Up - Martin Pot - Wikimedia Commons

An insect's head is composed of a capsule of fused plates at the anterior end of the body. They have one large pair of compound eyes and honeycomb like corneal facets. In contrast to this, are the three simple ocelli, found dorsal to compound eyes. Insects also have one pair of antennae on their head's.

Antennae

• Form varies amongst insecta
  • E.g. long and segmented, short and squat etc.

• Hairs sometimes present

• Aristae (bristles) sometimes present

Mouthparts

• Modification depending on feeding method

• Insects which suck up liquified food have an expanded sponge like labellae
  • Cannot penetrate skin
  • Palps are also present which are sensory structures

• Insects which suck blood have long slender mouthparts for piercing skin
  • Hypopharynx
  • Mandibles
  • Labrum
  • Maxillae

• Larval mouthparts are prominent
  • One pair of hooks
  • Cephalo-pharyngeal skeleton
  • Mouthparts help identify larvae

Insect Thorax

• Divided into three segments
  • Prothorax, mesothorax and metathorax

• Each segment has one pair of legs attached

• One or two pairs of wings may be present on the mesothorax and metathorax

Leg

• Leg is attached to the body by coxa

• Trochanter

• Femur

• Tibia

• Tarsus, which is composed of several segments

• Claw

• Usually six-segmented

Wing

Alan Hadley

• Insects usually posess two pairs of wings

• Diptera have a reduced second pair of wings called halteres for balance

• Membranous outgrowth of the integument

• Strengthened by a network of veins comprising breathing tubes (trachea) and blood vessels

• The wing venation can be used for identification
  • Longitudinal veins
  • Cross veins
  • Open cells
  • Closed cells

Insect Abdomen

• Segmented

• Soft

• Appendages present
  • Copulatory claspers
  • Ovipositor
  • External genitalia

Respiratory System

• Branching trachea strengthened by spiral thickenings in the walls

• Trachea communicate with outside via spiracles
  • Spiracles on side of body
  • Chitinous openings
  • Muscular control so can open and close at will
  • Mounted on stigmatic plates
  • Lead to trachea

• Muscular contactions of the body wall produce respiratory movements

• Shape of spiracles and stigmatic plates used for species identification

Alimentary and Excretary System

• The precise shape of the gut varies between arthropods

• The Alimentary canal is divided into fore, mid and hind gut

• Foregut:
  • Oesophagus
  • Crop for temporary food storage
  • Proventriculus
  • Gizzard present in insects which eat solid food
    • Muscular wall and teeth on inner surface

• Midgut:
  • Stores food
  • Secretes enzymes for digestion
  • Outlet for malpighian tubules (equivalent of the mammalian kidney)

• Hindgut:
  • Water resorption

Circulatory System

• Heart situated dorsally
  • Valves divide heart into compartments
  • Valves only let blood flow forwards

• Aorta

• Branching blood vessels

• Haemocoele
  • General body cavity
  • Equivalent to the capillary circulation in mammals
  • Contains haemolymph

• Ostia (openings) in the blood vessel walls allow return of blood to the heart

Nervous System

• Small brain above the oesophagus

• Chain of fused ganglia running along the floor of the abdomen and thorax
  • Nerves are given off from chain

• Complex nervous system
  • Well developed visual senses

Fat Body

• Large structure

• Cells containing fat vacuoles

• Lines the body cavity and internal organs

• Equivalent to the visceral and parietal peritoneum in mammals

• Food reservoir during hibernation or starvation periods

Reproductive System

• Most insects have seperate sexes

• Reproductive organs are analogous to mammals

• Spermatheca present in females
  • Accessory female sex organ
  • Recepticle for spermatozoa
  • Sperm remains viable for most of the female's life cycle