introduction

Question 1

define parasite

Answer 1

an organism that lives on or in a host at the expense of its host

Question 2

what can parasites cause

Answer 2

↓ milk yield, weight gain, fertility, survival, welfare, wellbeing (e.g. fly
“worry”)
Anaemia (blood-feeding ectoparasites)
Toxic response (e.g. tick paralysis)
Allergic responses (e.g. flea allergic dermatitis (FAD), sweet itch)
Self-wounding & secondary infections
Some ectoparasites are vectors for pathogen and other parasites
Zoonoses
Economic cost of control

Question 3

summary of morphology of insecta

Answer 3

3 pairs of legs
3 body regions – head, thorax, abdomen
Antennae

Question 4

summary of morphology of arachnida

Answer 4

4 pairs of legs (except larval stage,
which has 3)
2 body regions – gnathosoma
(mouthparts), idiosoma (”body”)

Question 5

name the parts of the antennae

Answer 5

flagellum
pedicel
Johnston’s organ
scape

Question 6

function of johnston’s organ

Answer 6

detects motion in the flagellum

Question 7

holoptic

Answer 7

eyes meet along dorsal midline

Question 8

dichoptic

Answer 8

separated

Question 9

what is the exoskeleton made of and function

Answer 9

chitin
provides support and protection