Portal:Insects

The Insects Portal

A western honey bee on a honeycomb created inside of a wooden beehive

A bull ant showing the powerful mandibles and the relatively large compound eyes that provide excellent vision

Insects (from Latin insectum) are hexapod invertebrates of the class Insecta. They are the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have a chitinous 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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A. wedmannae holotype

Archimyrmex is an extinct genus of ant in the formicid subfamily Myrmeciinae, described by palaeoentomologist Theodore Cockerell in 1923. The genus contains four described species, Archimyrmex rostratus, Archimyrmex piatnitzkyi, Archimyrmex smekali and Archimyrmex wedmannae. Archimyrmex is known from a group of Middle Eocene fossils which were found in North America, South America, and Europe. The genus was initially placed in the subfamily Ponerinae, but it was later placed in Myrmeciinae; it is now believed to be the ancestor of the extant primitive genus Myrmecia from Australia. Despite this, Archimyrmex is not a member to any tribe and is regarded as incertae sedis within Myrmeciinae. However, some authors believe Archimyrmex should be assigned as incertae sedis within Formicidae. These ants can be characterised by their large mandibles and body length, ranging from 13.2 to 30 mm (0.52 to 1.18 in). They also have long, thin legs and an elongated mesosoma (thorax) and petiole. (Full article...)

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... that the caterpillar of the zygaenid moth Aglaope infausta can retract its head into its prothorax?
... that the pictured rove beetle lives in the intertidal zone and feeds on beach hoppers?
... that the male Pink-Striped Oakworm Moth attracts females by buzzing like a bee?
... that the mosquito Psorophora howardii can puncture through a coat, vest, and two shirts?
... that the beetle Dermestes maculatus attacks and eats live turkeys?

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

Image 1Bumblebee defecating. Note the contraction of the anus, which provides internal pressure. (from Insect morphology)
Image 2Mandibles of Rhyniognatha hirsti, it may be one of the oldest insects, but also possible to be a myriapod. (from Evolution of insects)
Image 3Frenulo-retinacular wing coupling in male and female moths (from Insect flight)
Image 4A tau emerald (Hemicordulia tau) dragonfly has flight muscles attached directly to its wings. (from Insect flight)
Image 5The abdominal terminus of male scorpionflies is enlarged into a "genital bulb", as seen in Panorpa communis (from Insect morphology)
Image 6Evolution has produced astonishing variety of appendages in insects, such as these antennae. (from Evolution of insects)
Image 7A pie chart of described eukaryote species, showing just over half of these to be insects (from Insect biodiversity)
Image 8
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 9Generalized arthropod biramous limb. Trueman proposed that an endite and an exite fused to form a wing. (from Insect flight)
Image 10Indian moon moth (Actias selene) with some of the spiracles identified (from Respiratory system of insects)
Image 11The Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) have direct flight musculature. (from Insect flight)
Image 12Mazothairos, a Carboniferous member of the now extinct order Palaeodictyoptera. (from Evolution of insects)
Image 13Scanning electron micrograph of a cricket spiracle valve (from Respiratory system of insects)
Image 14Cross-section of wing vein (from Insect morphology)
Image 15Hoverfly (Philhelius pedissequum) has indirect flight musculature. (from Insect flight)
Image 16Fossil gnat in amber, a well-preserved insect fossil (from Evolution of insects)
Image 17Mayfly nymph with paired abdominal gills (from Insect flight)
Image 18Diagram of a typical insect leg (from Insect morphology)
Image 19Direct flight: muscles attached to wings. Large insects only (from Insect flight)
Image 20Queen Alexandra's birdwing (Ornithoptera alexandrae) of Papua New Guinea (from Insect biodiversity)
Image 21Male genitalia of Lepidoptera (from Insect reproductive system)
Image 22Variety of male structures in Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae) (from Insect reproductive system)
Image 23Reconstruction of a Carboniferous insect, the palaeodictyopteran Mazothairos (from Insect flight)
Image 24The female genitalia of Lepidoptera (from Insect reproductive system)
Image 25Stylized diagram of insect digestive tract showing malpighian tubule, from an insect of the order Orthoptera. (from Insect morphology)
Image 26Reconstruction of Strudiella devonica as a possible hexapod (from Evolution of insects)

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Credit: Fir0002

Insects are the only group of invertebrates known to have evolved flight. Insects possess some remarkable flight characteristics and abilities, still far superior to attempts by humans to replicate their capabilities.

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WikiProject Insects

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