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PHYLUM ARTHROPODA - The Joint-footed Animals
Subphylum Uniramia
- The Insects and Myriapods
- Class Myriapoda
- Subclass Chilopoda - The Centipedes
- one pair of walking legs per segment
- head has one pair of antennae, and three pairs of appendages
modified to serve as mouthparts
- body is dorsoventrally flattened in cross-section
- terrestrial carnivores (they can give you a good nip!)
- Subclass Diplopoda - The Millipedes
- two pairs of walking legs per segment
- body is round in cross section
- entirely herbivorous and detritivorous
- may be among the earliest of all land animals
- Class Insecta - The Insects
- vast diversity
- beetles alone comprise more than 350,000 species
- body consists of
- six pairs of walking legs connected to the thorax
- mouthparts are appendages modified to form mandibles
a biologist who studies insects is an ENTOMOLOGIST
A few common examples of insects:
Order Coleoptera (beetles)
- two pairs of wings: one membranous, one hard or leathery
(elytra, or wing-covers)
- more than 350,000 species, these are the MOST DIVERSE TYPE OF
ANIMAL ON THE PLANET!
Order Diptera (flies)
- includes flies and mosquitoes
- one pair of flying wings
- mouthparts may be modified for biting, piercing, lapping, or sucking
Order Hemiptera - true "bugs"
- piercing/sucking mouthparts
- two pairs of wings: one partly leathery, one membranous and for
flying
Order Hymenoptera - bees, wasps, and ants
- two pairs of membranous wings
- often social, with complex caste systems
Order Lepidoptera - butterflies and moths
- two pairs of colorful, scaled wings
- long, coiled tongue adapted for sucking nectar
Order Odonata - dragonflies
- two pairs of stiff, membranous wings
- highly acrobatic fliers
- highest visual acuity of all insects
- biting/chewing mouthparts
- predatory! eat other insects
Order Siphonaptera - fleas
- wingless
- laterally flattened body
- biting/sucking mouthparts (no, really?)
- powerful jumping legs
Subphylum Crustacea
- The Crustaceans
