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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Myrmecia nigriceps worker from Strangways, Victoria

Myrmecia nigriceps, also known as the black-headed bull ant, is a species of ant endemic to Australia. A member of the genus Myrmecia in the subfamily Myrmeciinae, it was first described by Austrian entomologist Gustav Mayr in 1862. These ants are large, varying from 19 to 23 millimetres (0.75 to 0.91 in) in length. However, colonies contain workers that are much smaller, usually half the size of normal workers. The queens are the largest while the males are the smallest, which can be easily identified due to their small mandibles.

Mainly nocturnal M. nigriceps is found in hot hilly areas and woodland, nesting underground in mounds. The ant's diet consists of sweet liquids from flowering plants and invertebrate prey, which are fed to the carnivorous larvae. Spiders are known to eat these ants, and echidnas consume the larvae and pupae. Like other Myrmecia species, M. nigriceps ants possess a powerful and painful sting, and the venom is capable of inducing allergic reactions in sensitive people. (Full article...)

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... that the only fossil of the extinct moth Baltimartyria sat on a paleoentomologist's desk for a number of years before being described in 2011?
... that the extinct wasps Dryinus grimaldii and Dryinus rasnitsyni are distinguishable by the modified claws on their front legs?
... that the extinct planthopper Ordralfabetix is named for a character from The Adventures of Asterix?
... that the rove beetle Diochus electrus is the first definite member of the subfamily Staphylininae from the fossil record?
... that the horse fly Scaptia beyonceae was named after singer and actress Beyoncé Knowles because of its striking golden behind?

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

Image 1Mandibles of Rhyniognatha hirsti, it may be one of the oldest insects, or a myriapod. (from Evolution of insects)
Image 2Bumblebee defecating. Note the contraction of the anus, which provides internal pressure. (from Insect morphology)
Image 3A tau emerald (Hemicordulia tau) dragonfly has flight muscles attached directly to its wings. (from Insect flight)
Image 4Scanning electron micrograph of a cricket spiracle valve (from Respiratory system of insects)
Image 5Frenulo-retinacular wing coupling in male and female moths (from Insect flight)
Image 6A pie chart of described eukaryote species, showing just over half of these to be insects (from Insect biodiversity)
Image 7Variety of male structures in Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae) (from Insect reproductive system)
Image 8The abdominal terminus of male scorpionflies is enlarged into a "genital bulb", as seen in Panorpa communis (from Insect morphology)
Image 9Ctenopisma lineatum showing the two cerci and the central caudal filament. (from Insect morphology)
Image 10The Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) have direct flight musculature. (from Insect flight)
Image 11Indian moon moth (Actias selene) with some of the spiracles identified (from Respiratory system of insects)
Image 12Diagram of a typical insect leg (from Insect morphology)
Image 13Cross-section of wing vein (from Insect morphology)
Image 14Generalized arthropod biramous limb. Trueman proposed that an endite and an exite fused to form a wing. (from Insect flight)
Image 15Reconstruction of a Carboniferous insect, the palaeodictyopteran Mazothairos (from Insect flight)
Image 16Queen Alexandra's birdwing (Ornithoptera alexandrae) of Papua New Guinea (from Insect biodiversity)
Image 17Reconstruction of Strudiella devonica as a possible hexapod (from Evolution of insects)
Image 18Male genitalia of Lepidoptera (from Insect reproductive system)
Image 19Stylized diagram of insect digestive tract showing malpighian tubule, from an insect of the order Orthoptera. (from Insect morphology)
Image 20Evolution has produced a wide variety of appendages in insects, such as these antennae. (from Evolution of insects)
Image 21The female genitalia of Lepidoptera (from Insect reproductive system)
Image 22Mayfly nymph with paired abdominal gills (from Insect flight)
Image 23Fossil gnat in amber, a well-preserved insect fossil (from Evolution of insects)
Image 24Showing the paired white paraprocts at the posterior tip. (from Insect morphology)
Image 25Mazothairos, a Carboniferous member of the now extinct order Palaeodictyoptera. (from Evolution of insects)
Image 26
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 27Direct flight: muscles attached to wings. Large insects only (from Insect flight)
Image 28Hoverfly (Philhelius pedissequum) has indirect flight musculature. (from Insect flight)

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Credit: Luc Viatour

Panorpa communis, the common scorpionfly (Mecoptera: Panorpidae), is a species of scorpionfly native to Western Europe.

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