Entomology - is the scientific study of insects
and related arthropods (Ross and Jacques, 1981)
Phylum Arthropoda
Having jointed legs or appendages
Segmented body that bears a varying number of
paired and segmented appendages.
Bilateral symmetry
Sclerotized exoskeleton that contains the
nitrogenous polysaccharide, chitin
Various internal features such as an open
circulatory system
It ranked under the Class Insecta
2 subphyla of Phylum Arthropoda
1. Chelicerata
2. Mandibulata
Chelicerata – characterized by a pair of
appendages near oral opening. (spiders, mites,
ticks, scorpions, horseshoe crabs).
Mandibulata – characterized by a pair of
grinding structures associated with mouthparts.
(insects, centipedes, millipedes)
Characteristics of Class Insecta
Three well-defined body regions or tagmata as
follows: head, thorax and abdomen.
Three pairs of legs in adult stage
Commonly 1 or 2 pairs of wings, if present
Single pair of segmented antennae on the head
A pair each of maxillae and mandibles
2 kinds of eyes (simple and compound)
Relatives of Insects
Class Arachnida (spiders, mites, ticks,
scorpions)
Little evidence of external segmentation
Tagmata or body regions are: prosoma
(cephalothorax) and opisthosoma (abdomen)
The appendages in the prosoma are the
following: chelicerae, pedipalps and 4 pairs of
legs; simple eyes present; no antennae; no wings
In the opisthosoma: without locomotor
appendages
Gonopore: hidden in anterior part of ventral
surface of opisthosoma (embryologically
segment 2)
Appendages: biramous (composed of 2
branches)
Compound eyes on long stalk
Head appendages: 2 pairs of antennae (feelers),
1 pair of mandibles and 2 pairs of maxillae.
Gonopores (external opening of reproductive
tract): 1pair located on the base of posterior
appendages of thorax.

Spinneret – silk spinning organ

Gonopore – genital pore in many invertebrates

Class Crustacea (crayfish, shrimps, crabs)

Tagmata or body regions: varied; head and
thorax covered dorsally by an unsegmented
carapace (shieldlike plate) and distinctly
segmented abdomen.
Class Chilopoda or Symphyla (centipede)
External segmentation is distinct
Tagmata: head and trunk
Head: 1 pair of antennae; mandibles; 2 pairs of
maxillae
Trunk: with only 12 pairs of legs; most segments
with 1 pair of legs, some without legs.
Gonopore: unpaired, on segment 4 of trunk in
front of legs.
Facts about centipedes
0.2-27.9 cm – length
Insect, earthworms, spiders – diet
5-6 years – life span
Predatory arthropod with 1 pair of legs per body
segment
Largest terrestrial invertebrate predators
The only arthropods with forcipules
Centipedes have a varying number of legs
ranging from 30- 354
With venomous forcipules and speedy
movement –defense
Class Diplopoda (millipede)
External segmentation plainly evident
Tagmosis not pronounced; distinct head
followed by a segment enlarged dorsally
(collum) which resembles those of the trunk;
latter composed of thorax and abdomen
Thorax poorly differentiated from collum and
abdomen; distinguished from latter by the
presence of only 1 pair of legs on each of the
three segments; legs moved forward on
segments 1 and 2
Abdomen, almost all apparent segments with
two pairs of legs
Gonopore paired, at base of the legs of segment
2 of thorax.
Facts about millipedes
0.2-35 cm – length
Feces, organic matter, decomposing vegetation –
diet
Arthropods with 2 pairs of legs on most body
segments
Known as “thousand leggers” (750 legs-biggest
recorded number) curl into a tight coil – as
defense mechanism to protect their legs and
other vital delicate organs with their hard
exoskeleton
Giant African Millipedes – world’s largest
millipedes growing
30.5 cm or 12 inches long.
A female Illacme plenipes with 618 legs (309
pairs)
IMPORTANCE OF INSECTS
Destroy our food both before and after harvest
Damage the wooden structures of our houses
Transmit causal organisms of our most
devastating diseases (vector/carrier)
Direct attacks cause irritation, blood loss and
even death
Pollinate our crops
Control many of our pests (natural enemies)
Return much of our waste to the soil
Source of honey, beeswax, silk, shellac,
cochineal dye (source of beneficial products)
Serve as food for man and as feed to
domesticated animals
Products of honeybee
Bee Pollen - male seed of a flower collected by
the honey bees and mixed with the bees’
digestive enzymes. Low in calories but rich in
protein, vitamins and minerals.
Honey – from the flower nectar collected by
bees
Royal jelly – queen bee extraordinary food. It is
a blend of secretions from the salivary glands of
the worker bee and contains a high concentration
of vitamins B5, B6, and amino acids
Bee wax - a natural secretion from wax glands.
Uses of beeswax includes candle, skin care
products, furniture polish, batik making.
Propolis - Honey bees collect sticky resins that
ooze from the buds of some trees and conifers
and then chew and mixed them with their saliva.
It protects the bees from diseases since it has
antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-
inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
Mead – honey wine
Bee Bread- made of pollen mixed with bits of
honey, bee wax, and bees’ digestive enzymes
and is known to be useful in treating anemia,
hepatitis, insomnia, stress, failing memory,
cholesterol and digestive tract disorder.
Silkworm (Bombyx mori)
Cochineal bug
cochineal (pronounced “coke-in-neel”) a scale
insect, a parasitic bug that attaches itself to a
host plant, drawing sustenance from it.
They’re about the size of a peppercorn and
resemble a burgundy-colored piece of gnocchi.
Cochineal bugs (source of carmine dye)
Laccifer lacca (Scale insect)
Source of shellac
Products made of shellac
Nail polish; Hair spray; Eyeliner; Mascara;
Fragrance; Moisturizer; Hair color and
Bleaching
Specialized Fields in Entomology
Insect Morphology – deals with the study of
comparative anatomy and the development of an
insect’s form and structure.
Insect Physiology – science which deals with
study of the physical and chemical changes in
the insect body or the functions of the forms and
structures.
Insect Ecology – study of insect which deals
with the interrelationship to its environment.
Insect Toxicology – deals on the study of how
chemical drugs in agriculture and medical
practices affect the life of insects
Forest Entomology – deals with the study of
insect communities in the forest ecosystem
Medical Entomology – deals with the study of
insects that parasitize man and domesticated
animals, those that serve as vector of human and
animal diseases.

Economic Entomology – the part of the science
that deals with the species that is actually or
potentially important in beneficial or injurious
manner.
Some Common Terminologies in Entomology
Abdomen - Body of the insect, toward the
posterior of the thorax.
Aedeagus - The sclerotized terminal portion of
the male genital tract that is inserted into the
female during insemination. Its shape is often
important in separating closely related species.
Antennae - The long feelers situated on the
head and close to the eyes. They are however not
tactile but used for detecting airborne scents and
currents.
Anterior - in front of or after the
aforementioned structure.
Anus - The posterior opening of the digestive
tract.
Base - Region close to the point of attachment to
the thorax.
Cervix - (Anatomical feature) the structure
defining the neck of the insect.
Clasper - A structure in male insects that is used
to hold the female during copulation.
Compound eye - An eye consisting of a large
number of individual photoreceptor units or
ommatidia (ommatidium, singular)
Coxa - first leg segment, between body and
trochanter.
Dorsal - Dorsal alternately, also refers to the
back, i.e. the upper part of the body, from above.
Elytron - (Anatomical feature) the modified,
hardened forewing of certain insect orders,
notably beetles (Coleoptera) and some of the
true bugs (Hemiptera).
Entomophagy - feeding on other insects.
Face - The area between the base of antennae,
oral margin, eyes and cheeks (gena).
Femur - Third leg segment, between trochanter
and tibia.
Forewing - (Anatomical feature) the pair of
wings of a four-winged insect closest to the
head. First pair of wings
Frons - (Anatomical feature) The frontal area of
an insect's head.(Forehead)
Gena - (Anatomical feature) the area below the
compound eyes, the insect equivalent to human
cheeks.
Geniculate - Elbowed. From the Latin for a
bended knee, referring to an organ of a type not
always expected to be kinked, but having a
definite angular bend or hinge. In entomology
the term typically refers to an elbowed antenna.
Hemocoel - the interior of the insects anatomy,
including all organs and hemocyte. Body cavity
Hemolymph or haemocyte - a fluid in the
circulatory system of insects containing
nutrients, fat, water, etc. Blood
Hindwing - (Anatomical feature) the pair of
wings of a four-winged insect farthest from the
head.(Second pair of wings)
Hypopharynx - Mouthpart. A tonguelike lobe
on the floor of the mouth.
Imago - (plural is usually imagines) The final,
or adult, stage in metamorphosis.
Labium - Mouthpart forming the lower lip.
Bears the labial palps.
Labrum - (Anatomical feature) the anterior
structure below the clypeus covering some of the
mouthparts, sometimes called the "upper lip".
Maxilla - Mouthpart. The maxillae are paired
and arranged behind the mandibles. May bear
palps.
Mesothorax - the middle segment of the thorax,
between the prothorax and the metathorax.
Metathorax - The third and last segment of the
thorax after the mesothorax.
Oviposition - the act of laying eggs.
Ovipositor - Egg –laying structure
Parasitoid - parasite that develops attached to or
within a host organism in a relationship which
ultimately kills the host.
Pedicel - the second segment ( antennomere) of
the antenna
Phytophagy – feeding on plants
Posterior - in a position behind or below the
aforementioned.
Proboscis - tubular feeding and sucking organ.
Proleg - fleshy leg like structures arising from
the abdominal segments of caterpillars. These
prolegs have crochets or curved hooks.
Prothorax - The first segment on the thorax
anterior to the mesothorax.
Pterothorax - The meso- and metathorax of
winged insects, that carries the two pairs of
wings. Wing bearing segment
Saprophagy - feeding on decaying organic
matter.
Scape - the proximal segment ( antennomere) of
the antenna.
Spiracle - Respiratory openings on the thorax
and abdomen that allow air to enter the trachea.
Tarsus - fifth (last) leg segment, the part that
touches the walking surface.
Thorax - The part of the body that lies between
the head and the abdomen. It has three parts -
prothorax, mesothorax and metathorax. Second
body region
Tibia - fourth leg segment, between femur and
tarsus.