Module 9 - Arthropods

Question 1

What is an Arthropod?

Answer 1

An Arthropod is an invertebrate with an exoskeleton, jointed legs/appendages and a body that is divided into sections.

Question 2

What does aposematic coloration mean?

Answer 2

These bright colours (red, yellow and black) warn the potential enemy of poisonous secretion, a foul smell, a bite or a sting.
E. g. CMR Beetle or Grasshopper.

Question 3

Why is a solifuge not a true spider?

Answer 3

Because of missing silk glands and missing venom glands.

Question 4

How do millipedes protect themselves?

Answer 4

1. They have a hard shell (integument), made of calcareous material;
2. they roll up into a coil showing aposematic colouration;
3. secreting toxic or repellent fluids from special glands.

Question 5

What are characteristics of an insect?

Answer 5

1) 3 distinct body parts (head, thorax, abdomen)
2) 3 pairs of jointed legs
3) 2 pairs of wings
4) pair of compound eyes + simple eyes
5) single pair of antennae
6) external mouth parts

Question 6

3 Lifecycles and stages

Answer 6

1. Ametabolic (nymph looks like adult): Egg-nymph-Adult
2. Hemimetabolic (nymph diferent from adult and in different habitat)
   Egg-Nymph-Adult
3. Holometabolic (larva different from adult)
   Egg-Nymph-Puppa-Adult

Question 7

Why are insects succesful?

Answer 7

1. Ability to fly
2. Metaomorphic cycle (different resources)
3. Modified mouthparts (lareg variety of foods)
4. Social lifestyle

Question 8

Why are insects important?

Answer 8

1. Balance nature
2. Food source
3. Primary consumers (linkbetween plant and predator)
4. Pollination
5. Spread diseases to animals, humans and plants
6. Waste removal

Question 9

What are flying ants?

Answer 9

Termite kings and queens (alates)

Question 10

Feeding behaviour of insects

Answer 10

1. Chewing
2. Sucking and chewing
3. Piercing and sucking
4. Biting

Question 11

Importance of spiders in ecosystems

Answer 11

1. Predators at top of food chain

2. Indicator species

Question 12

Scorpion families

Answer 12

Scorpionidae (thin tail, big pedipalps, non-venomous bite)

Buthidae (thick tail, small pedipalpls, venomous bite)