ZLY 111

PHYLUM ARTHROPODA
A. GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
Name Arthropoda = jointed appendages (legs) - exoskeleton of chitin
Functions (positives):
1) Protection and surface
2) Attachment point for muscles - skeleton on outside with presences of skeletal &
Smooth muscles
3) Allows body to maintain structure and shape
Problems:
1) How do they grow? - shed skeleton at intervals (process = molting)
2) Limit motility compared to annelids - many plates- (have jointed appendages for
movement)

Contains about 78% of all known species of animals. Over 1,100,000 species have been identified; at
least 1-50M more still to be identified. They live on land, in the sea and air and make up over tree-fourths
of all currently known living and fossil organisms. They have been called the dominant animals on earth.
They include 2/3rds of all known animals. There are possibly 10 – 50 Million not yet described, in terms
of numbers of individuals. There are 200 M individual arthropods for every person on earth. Most of
them are <6 mm long. The largest arthropod is the Japanese crab 19’ (5.79 M), 40lbs (18kg) while the
smallest is the mite <0.1 mm.

B. Economic importance to humans

Food, Pollination, Drugs, dyes, silk, honey, wax, Crop pests, Vectors of disease
Rich fossil record

One group, the arachnids, were the first known Animals to move onto land - Silurian 420 MY ago
Later, many other different groups also invaded land. They were the 1st animals to fly-150 MY before
flying reptiles, birds, bats

C. Major Characteristics of Arthropods:

1. Hard exoskeleton of chitin- consists of hardened chitin and proteins in several layers secreted by
epidermis. Excellent for protection, also waterproof - good for life on land; Often highly colored,
camouflage, recognition, warning and mating. The exoskeleton contains various folds, flaps and spines:
Parts modified for feeding, structures for respiration, swimming & mating and into sensory organs

Molting- a complex process requiring environmental factors and the interaction of various hormones.
includes actual shedding of old cuticle = ecdysis. old skeleton splits & comes off; must have new skeleton
secreted below, soft at first, organism "pumps up" to increase size until hardened; during this time (1-2
hours) is vulnerable to predation. eg. insects go through a fixed # of molts till adulthood, then they don’t
molt anymore. eg. spiders molt indefinite # of times throughout

2. Segmented body - allows infinite possibilities for adaptive modifications. lots of fusion of segments
into a variety of body plans: a) cephalothorax & abdomen b) head & trunk c) head - throax - abdomen

3. Paired jointed appendages - also highly adaptable: walking, swimming, feeding, flying, breathing,
reproduction, senses

4. Well developed head (cephalization) - with numerous sense organs, Antennae & compound eyes are
characteristic sense organs of arthropods. Brain (ganglia), Feeding appendages

1
 5. Complex muscular system - layers of muscles around internal organs both striated and smooth muscle
fibers.Muscle bundles to move skeleton- similar to muscle bundles that move our bones

6. Complete complex digestive tract

Carnivores, herbivores, omnivores, parasites - virtually every mode of feeding. Head appendages
modified into a variety of mouthparts to get food into mouth
Two main varieties:
Chelicerae - pinchers or fangs
Mandibles – jawlike, with numerous accessory feeding appendages,
Well developed complete digestive tract: Efficient areas for absorption of nutrients
Mouth - esophagus - stomach - intestine - anus

7. Well developed respiratory system - need some kind of respiratory system no matter how small since
waxy cuticle is impermeable to air. Variety of respiratory systems - depends on habitat -Gills, Book gills,
Lungs, Book lungs, Tracheae

8. Simple circulatory system – Similar to annelids: open circulatory system = heart + hemocoel= Reduced
coelom

9. Nervous system
Similar to annelids: dorsal brain and double nerve cord with paired ganglia in each segment.

10. Efficient excretory system- prevents excessive water loss on land

11. Reproduction and Development

Most are dioecious; Several different developmental patterns through juvenile stages physical &
physiological changes with each molt = metamorphosis
1) Simple - gradual growth is size with each molt not a true metamorphosis (most common)
example, crab, horseshoe crab
2) Gradual - slow change in morphology through molts ex: grasshopper, wings larger with each molt
3) Incomplete - change in physiology & morphology, distinct larval & adult forms, but similar example:
dragonfly (larvae aquatic, adult terrestrial
4) Complete - three distinct form in life -larval, pupae, adult (larval & adult different) ex: beetle, fly,
butterfly

12. A wide variety of sense organs - greatest diversity seen of any invertebrates:
a) Compound eyes - many simple eyes coordinated together
b) Tentacles - chemo-reception (touch + smell)
c) Tympanum - ears for hearing

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MEMBERS OF THE ARTHROPODA

# FEATURES CHILOPODA DIPLOPODA ARACHNIDA CRUSTACEA INSECTA
1 EXAMPLES Centipedes Millipedes Spiders, Ticks, Crabs, Cockroach, Grasshoppe
Scorpions Lobsters,
Shrimps
2 ANTANNA(E) 1 pair of antenna 1 pair of antenna No Antenna 2 pairs of 1 pair of antenna
antenna
3 BODY 15- 21 segments 13 – 30 segments 2 regions 3 regions- 3 regions- head, tho

2
 SEGMENT (Cephalothorax head, thorax abdomen
and abdomen) and abdomen
4 SKELETAL Chitin Chitin Chitin Chitin and Chitin
COMPOSITION calcium
5 HABITAT Terrestrial Terrestrial Terrestrial Mainly aquatic Aquatic and Terrestrial
6 FEEDING TYPE Carnivorous Herbivorous and Carnivorous Carnivorous Carnivorous, Omnivoro
Detritivorous and And Detritivous, herbiv
detritivorous
7 WALKING LEGS 1 pair per 2 pairs per 4 Pairs of 5 pairs of 3 pairs of walking legs
segment segment walking legs walking legs
8 DEVELOPMENT Well developed Well developed Poorly Well Well developed
OF THE EYES developed developed
9 RESPIRATORY Trachea or Air Trachea or Air Book lungs Gills Spiracles
SYSTEM tubes tubes
10 VENOM Secretes venoms Secretes venoms Some Secrete Absence of Few secrete venoms
SECRETION venoms venoms
11 GNACTAL 3 pairs of 2 pairs of 2 pairs of 5 pairs of 5 pairs of appendages
APPENDAGES appendages appendages appendages appendages
12 Types of Eyes Simple Simple Simple Simple Compound and Simple

D. CLASSIFICATION OF ARTHROPODS
I. SUBPHYLUM ONYCOPHORA (4,000 species)
Trilobites or onychophorans (All are now extinct). Have many pair branched (biramous) appendages,
mouth parts with a labium to help orient food into mouth. Antennae present, mostly marine

II. SUBPHYLUM CHELICERATA (74,000 species)

Horseshoe crab, spiders, ticks, mites, scorpions, ancient group, mostly terrestrial, chelicerae and pedipalps
for feeding. No antennae, Have cephalothorax

III. SUBPHYLUM CRUSTACEA (40,000 species)

Crabs, shrimp barnacles, crayfish & other crustaceans many pairs of biramous appendages, mostly
marine, a few freshwater and terrestrial forms.Mouth parts of mandibles to grab & chew. Two pairs of
antennae. Have cephalothorax

IV. SUBPHYLUM UNIRAMIA- Myriopods (14,000 species) “many feet”

Examples are centipedes, millipedes. Many pairs of unbranched appendages (uniramous), mostly
terrestrial. Distinct head with mandibles, many similar segments, mouth parts of mandibles to grab &
chew one pair antennae

V. SUBPHYLUM HEXAPODA (1,100,000 species)

Insects and similar arthropods, most successful animal group; 87% of all arthropods.62% of all animals
and 50% of all life on earth. Mostly terrestrial, a few freshwater, hardly any marine. They have distinct
head with mandibles & 1 pr antennae. Body consist of head, thorax and abdomen, 3 prs of legs, most with
2 prs of wings, six pair unbranched appendages

3
E. VARIOU DIVISIONS OF ARTHROPODA

I.. SUBPHYLUM CHELICERATA

Include the water scorpions, horseshoe crab, sea spiders, spiders, ticks & mites
CHARACTERIZED BY:
Six pair appendages, one pair chelicerae (jab & suck type of feeding). One pair pedipalps (aid in food
handling). Four pair walking legs, No antennae, Head and thorax commonly fused together =
cephalothorax. Reduced segmentation of the thorax and abdomen. Breathing typically by book lungs

CLASSIFICATION - SUBGROUPS
a) Arachnids Examples include spiders, scorpions, daddy longlegs, ticks & mites
They have distinct and large abdomen. Spiders known for making webs with silk (a protein), others can
actually chase & catch prey. They secrete venoms as toxin s & digestive enzymes. Most species are
harmless to humans, BUT two species: * black widow - with shiny red hourglass on abdomen
* brown recluse - brown "violin" on cephalothorax are toxic and possess venoms
b) Scorpions have a short cephalothorax with appendages. The abdomen is seen with two parts-
preabdomen (wide) and * postabdomen (very narrow, tail-like)
c) Ticks & mites have one body section (anterior part with mouth parts) = capitulum, many species free
living, some parasitic, parasites include ticks & chigger. Ticks are known to carry Lyme disease. Deer
ticks also carry Rocky Mountain Spotted fever.

III. SUBPHYLUM MYRIAPODA Include the centipedes & millipedes

CHARACTERIZED BY:Two basic body sections, head and trunk, paired appendages on almost all trunk
sections, each of segments are uniramous (unbranched). One pair antennae, Mandibles present along
with two pairs maxillae

CLASSIFICATION - CLASSES
1) Class Diplopoda (millipedes)
Many body segments, two pair legs per segment, body rounded in cross section. They are herbivorous
2) Class Chilopoda (centipedes)
Many body segments, one pair legs per segment, body flattened in cross section.They are carnivorous
– appendage on first segment modified into poison claw

IV. SUBPHYLUM CRUSTACEA

Include the shrimp, crabs, crayfish, barnacles, branchiopods
CHARACTERIZED BY:
Segments fused into plates in many cases, cephalothorax covering = carapace, pointed anterior most
portion of cephalothorax = rostrum, tail = telson (last segment)
Feeding is enhanced by the appendages - capturing, handling food, chewing
Feeding types include: predators, scavengers, suspension feeders
Respiration is through gills; most species are aquatic. Many have a fused covering over the thorax to
protect gills.
Reproduction: most have separate sexes. Many species brood their eggs (care for young)

V. SUBPHYLUM HEXAPODA
Include insects and a few other small hexapods

4
CHARACTERIZED BY:
Uniramous appendages , 3 pair legs (hence hexapoda). One pair antennae, Respiration typically
tracheal - most species are terrestrial. The openings in exoskeleton = spiracles. Trachea typically
leads to air sacs within the hemocoel. Feeding with mandibles: number of variations in insects
Some species have developed the ability to fly -, all within the insects, wings are outgrowths of the
thorax
Excretion by a unique system = Malphigian Tubules are thin blind (one opening) tubules dump into
the gut tubules typically have ends into the hemocoel, typically produce uric acid, which is insoluble
in water
Reproduction- Most species have separate sexes, fertilization is commonly internal. Most species lay
eggs, some species are viviparous (live young)

Class Insecta (insects): few body segments, fused into head thorax & abdomen. They have three pairs of
limbs - one pair per segment of the thorax

INSECTS
Study of insects = entomology
There are 1.1 M species, may be as many as 30 M- there are more species of insects than all other animal
species. Most diverse and largest group in number of species. There are more beetles than all other
organisms put together.
Most successful & widespread group of all animals adapted to land before most other terrestrial animals
except a few Chelicerates- (Devonian 390 MY). Had 40 Million Year to evolve and diversify before
serious competition for space and resources from other animal phylum. By carboniferous (~300MY ago)
there are many different kinds of insects - still no birds around yet.

Today insects have spread into all habitats. Some live in deep underground caves on top of world’s
highest mountains; dominant fauna of all freshwater and soil habitats while some live in hot springs over
120 degrees F. Many species are found inside ice in Antarctica; some found in brine lakes; some live and
reproduce in pools of petroleum but only a very few are truly marine

Metamorphosis in Insects include

1. Without: egg – adult

2. Incomplete: egg- naiad –adult
3. Gradual: egg- nymph- adult
4. Complete: egg- larva-pupa-adult

Insects are characterized by : Much variation in leg appendages. Adaptation for:

Digging (mole cricket)
Jumping (flea , crickets& grasshopper) example Grasshoppers can jump 20 times length of Body
Equivalent Jump for human would be 1/3rd length of football field
Crawling (cockroach)
Floating - pads on tips (water strider)
Storage of pollen (bees)
Swimming (diving beetles, many insect larvae)

Variation in wings present:

2 pair wings, membranous (dragonfly)
2 pair wings, scale covered (butterfly)
1 pair wings + haltares (fly)

5
 1 pair wings + 1 pair sclerites (beetles)
no wings (walking stick, lice and fleas)

Variation in mandibles
Chewing (scavengers, predatory) – grasshopper
Sucking (nectar) – butterfly
Pierce & suck (plant/animal juices) - mosquito, aphid
Sponging & lapping (can bite first) - fly

Have a variety of ways to survive the winter:

Adult hibernation through winter (cold)
Adult estivation through summer (drought)
Larval forms in diapause - development stops at end of a growing season many species lay eggs

Variation in forms of defense:

Sting or bite - release harmful chemical- wasps & ants- release acids example -fire ant has both sting &
bite
Taste bad - one sacrifice for benefit of others example- monarch butterfly is very bitter
Many have a warning color to go along ex-orange/red or yellow/black strips
Mimicry - look like bad species, bright coloration, no bad sting, bite or color -ex-viceroy butterfly
Cryptic coloration - blend in with surroundings example-walking stick

Variation in Types of feeding:

Phytophagous - most feed on plant juices and tissues example many caterpillars feed on specific plants
Saprophagous- feed on dead or decaying organic matter example beetles, predaceous, parasitic

Classification of Insects -
In total, there are 25 orders of insects. We will discuss 10 common orders
1. Order Thysanura – Silverfish
2. Order Isoptera – Termites
3. Order Orthoptera – Grasshoppers, crickets
4. Order Lepidoptera – Butterflies and Moths
5. Order Hemiptera – Sting bugs (The true bugs
6. Order Diptera- Flies, gnats
7. Order Odonata- Dragon Flies, Damsel flies
8. Order Hymenoptera – Wasps, bees, ants
9. Order Coleoptera- Beetles
10. Order Homoptera- Lacewings, plant lice

Impact of Insect
The study of insects, particularly their life cycles, physiology, genetics, and ecology, has contributed a
great deal to our overall understanding of biology. In the late 1600's, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, the
Dutch microscopist who first described bacteria and protozoa, used the eye of a louse as his standard unit
of measurement for microscopic observations because "it's size was ever constant". The geneticist's fruit
fly (Drosophila melanogaster) has contributed much to our knowledge of chromosome structure,
mutation, and sex-linked inheritance. Its four pairs of chromosomes have been mapped with over ten
thousand individual genes. The first association between pathogens and disease grew out of Louis
Pasteur's studies of silkworm diseases (1865-1870).
Law enforcement agencies have discovered that insects and other arthropods can furnish valuable
evidence for criminal investigations. Specialists in forensic entomology can often deduce how, when, or

6
where a crime was committed by blending good police work and careful observation with a knowledge of
species' distributions, development rates, behavior, and ecology.

During much of the seventeenth century, people in Europe believed that all plants and animals were
created by God to either punish or serve humanity. They presumed, therefore, that any insect with no
obvious detriment must possess some useful characteristic, often related to curing disease. As a result,
insects (and other organisms) were carefully studied for their medicinal value and many species were
incorporated into remedies that may (or may not) have actually worked. At least a few of these drugs
did contain pharmacologically active compounds. For example, blister beetles (family Meloidae)
contain relatively high concentrations of cantharadin, a compound with notable effects on the vertebrate
urogenital system. Once prescribed as an aphrodesiac, cantharadin is now used to induce mating in some
domestic animals and as a therapy for some disorders of the urinary tract.

Honey bees (or their products) have been used for medicinal purposes since medieval times.
This practice, known as apitherapy, still exists as a form of "alternative" medicine in Europe and other
parts of the world. Some proponents of apitherapy use bee stings as a treatment for patients who suffer
from arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus erythematosus, Parkinson's disease, and other auto-immune
conditions. Recent evidence suggests that bee venom (or one of its components) has long-lasting effects
on the human body, perhaps by increasing the body's own production of cortisol, an anti-inflammatory
compound similar to cortisone but with fewer harmful side effects.

Research has uncovered other substances with anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory activity in a
variety of other insects, and there are undoubtedly more beneficial compounds still waiting to be
discovered. Some entomologists, such as Dr. Tom Eisner at Cornell University, have advocated a more
methodical search for these new medicines. Eisner calls it "chemical prospecting"; he believes
pharmaceutical companies will find enough new drugs in the class Insecta to keep them busy for many
hundreds of years.