Download Insects/IPM Study Guide

Insect/IPM Study Guide
● Arthropods - all insects are in this phylum
○ Mandibles - jaw-like mouthparts used for feeding and communicating; snapping
mouthparts
○ Chitin - material an exoskeleton is made up of consisting of carbohydrates and protein
○ Eardrum - the tympanum of an insect is comparable to this human body part
○ Proboscis - long, tube-like mouthpart that takes up food like a straw
○ Spiracles - insect breathing holes
● Metamorphosis - the life cycle of an insect
○ Nymph - a stage during incomplete metamorphosis when the insect doesn’t have wings
■ Molting - several stages of shedding skin; simple metamorphosis; nymph must molt
to reach an adult phase
● Pheromones - chemical scent insects use to attract a mate
● Stridulation - the rubbing of body parts together to make sounds
● Tymbals - special sound-makers found on the abdomen of cicadas
● Entomologist - a person who studies insects and insect behavior
Be able to label different parts of an insect, such as:
● Wings
● Antennae
● Jointed legs
● Mandibles
● 3 body parts - head, thorax, abdomen
● Mouthparts
● Compound eyes
● Spiracles
Reasons why insects make sound:
● Communication
● Defend territory
● Attract mates
● Scare predators
Reasons why insects have been able to survive for such a long time:
● Insects reproduce rapidly and in large
numbers
● Can hibernate or migrate to avoid harsh
conditions
● Are adapted to live almost anywhere on
Earth
● Small and go easily undetected
● Extremely strong for their size
IPM - Integrated Pest Management
● Pest - any unwanted organism that causes harm to humans, their food, or the environment
IPM Steps
1. Inspect and identify the cause of the problem/pest
2. Learn pest and host life cycles and biology
3. Monitor
4. Establish action threshold (economic, health, or aesthetic)
5. Choose tactics
6. Evaluate results
IPM Methods
● Biological - use predators, parasites, and diseases to suppress pest populations
○ Examples - foster natural predators, introduce natural enemies into habitats
● Chemical - biorational and conventional
○ Biorational examples - less toxic and target a specific aspect of pest biology, oils and soaps
○ Conventional examples - man-made compounds that are poisonous - pesticides
● Cultural - minimize conditions needed to live
○ Examples - mulching, raking, and pruning diseased parts of plants
● Genetic - use pest-resistant varieties
○ Examples - breed grasses/plants that are resistant to pests
● Physical - prevent access to host area or physically remove them
○ Examples - Screens, barriers, pruning, physical removal (pick them!)
● Regulatory - government agencies try to stop the spread or entry of pests into an area
○ Examples - laws are created to stop pests from entering areas or countries