Portal:Insects

The Insects Portal

Insects (from Latin insectum) are invertebrates of the class Insecta. They are the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have an exoskeleton, a three-part body (head, thorax and abdomen), three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and a pair of antennae. Insects are the most diverse group of animals, with more than a million described species; they represent more than half of all animal species. (Full article...)

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Malaria parasite connecting to a red blood cell

Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that is transmitted by the bite of Anopheles mosquitoes. The symptoms of human malaria typically include fever, fatigue, vomiting, and headaches. In severe cases, the disease can cause jaundice, seizures, coma, or death. Symptoms usually begin 10 to 15 days after being bitten by an infected Anopheles mosquito. If not properly treated, people may have recurrences of the disease months later. Those who survive an infection develop partial immunity, being susceptible to reinfection although with milder symptoms. This partial resistance disappears over months to years if the person has no continuing exposure to malaria.

Malaria is caused by single-celled parasites of the genus Plasmodium, generally spread through the bites of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. The mosquito bite introduces the parasites from the mosquito's saliva into the blood. The parasites initially reproduce and mature in the liver without causing symptoms. After a few days the mature parasites spread into the bloodstream, where they infect and destroy red blood cells, causing the symptoms of infection. Five species of Plasmodium commonly infect humans. The three species associated with more severe cases are P. falciparum (which is responsible for the vast majority of malaria deaths), P. vivax and P. knowlesi (a simian malaria that spills over into thousands of people a year). P. ovale and P. malariae generally cause a milder form of malaria. Malaria is typically diagnosed by the microscopic examination of blood using blood films, or with antigen-based rapid diagnostic tests. Methods that use the polymerase chain reaction to detect the parasite's DNA have been developed, but they are not widely used in areas where malaria is common, due to their cost and complexity. (Full article...)

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... that the penis of the lesser water boatman Micronecta scholtzi creates mating calls of 99.2 decibels, making it the loudest animal on earth, scaled for its size?
... that when the extinct forester moth Neurosymploca? oligocenica was described, a second fossil was known but unavailable for study?
... that the fontanellar gun is a type of specialised weapon used by North American termites to ward off enemy insects?
... that the extinct Eocene butterfly Prodryas persephone from the Florissant Fossil Beds is the best preserved fossil lepidopteran discovered to date?
... that Hydriomena? protrita was the first geometer moth to be described from the American fossil record?

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The following are images from various insect-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1A pie chart of described eukaryote species, showing just over half of these to be insects (from Insect biodiversity)
Image 2Showing the paired white paraprocts at the posterior tip. (from Insect morphology)
Image 3Fossil gnat in amber, a well-preserved insect fossil (from Evolution of insects)
Image 4Reconstruction of a Carboniferous insect, the palaeodictyopteran Mazothairos (from Insect flight)
Image 5Reconstruction of Strudiella devonica as a possible hexapod (from Evolution of insects)
Image 6Evolution has produced astonishing variety of appendages in insects, such as these antennae. (from Evolution of insects)
Image 7Stylized diagram of insect digestive tract showing malpighian tubule, from an insect of the order Orthoptera. (from Insect morphology)
Image 8Bumblebee defecating. Note the contraction of the anus, which provides internal pressure. (from Insect morphology)
Image 9Hoverfly (Philhelius pedissequum) has indirect flight musculature. (from Insect flight)
Image 10Mazothairos, a Carboniferous member of the now extinct order Palaeodictyoptera. (from Evolution of insects)
Image 11Mayfly nymph with paired abdominal gills (from Insect flight)
Image 12
Insect morphology
Legend of body parts
Tagmata: A – Head, B – Thorax, C – Abdomen.
1. antenna
2. ocelli (lower)
3. ocelli (upper)
4. compound eye
5. brain (cerebral ganglia)
6. prothorax
7. dorsal blood vessel
8. tracheal tubes (trunk with spiracle)
9. mesothorax
10. metathorax
11. forewing
12. hindwing
13. mid-gut (stomach)
14. dorsal tube (heart)
15. ovary
16. hind-gut (intestine, rectum & anus)
17. anus
18. oviduct
19. nerve cord (abdominal ganglia)
20. Malpighian tubes
21. tarsal pads
22. claws
23. tarsus
24. tibia
25. femur
26. trochanter
27. fore-gut (crop, gizzard)
28. thoracic ganglion
29. coxa
30. salivary gland
31. subesophageal ganglion
32. mouthparts
(from Insect morphology)
Image 13Queen Alexandra's birdwing (Ornithoptera alexandrae) of Papua New Guinea (from Insect biodiversity)
Image 14Cross-section of wing vein (from Insect morphology)
Image 15Male genitalia of Lepidoptera (from Insect reproductive system)
Image 16Ctenopisma lineatum showing the two cerci and the central caudal filament. (from Insect morphology)
Image 17Mandibles of Rhyniognatha hirsti, it may be one of the oldest insects, but also possible to be a myriapod. (from Evolution of insects)
Image 18Diagram of a typical insect leg (from Insect morphology)
Image 19The female genitalia of Lepidoptera (from Insect reproductive system)
Image 20Indian moon moth (Actias selene) with some of the spiracles identified (from Respiratory system of insects)
Image 21Scanning electron micrograph of a cricket spiracle valve (from Respiratory system of insects)
Image 22Variety of male structures in Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae) (from Insect reproductive system)
Image 23Generalized arthropod biramous limb. Trueman proposed that an endite and an exite fused to form a wing. (from Insect flight)
Image 24Frenulo-retinacular wing coupling in male and female moths (from Insect flight)
Image 25The abdominal terminus of male scorpionflies is enlarged into a "genital bulb", as seen in Panorpa communis (from Insect morphology)
Image 26Direct flight: muscles attached to wings. Large insects only (from Insect flight)
Image 27The Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) have direct flight musculature. (from Insect flight)
Image 28A tau emerald (Hemicordulia tau) dragonfly has flight muscles attached directly to its wings. (from Insect flight)

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Credit: Fir0002

Simosyrphus grandicornis is an Australasian species of hoverfly (Diptera: Syrphidae), and is one of the two most common hoverflies in Australia, alongside Melangyna viridiceps. Pictured above is a pair of S. grandicornis mating in flight.

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WikiProject Insects

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