Hexapod Ecology

By Nigel Detablan

Photo obtained from: https://www.thinglink.com/scene/754022537674883074

Hexapoda Ecology Subtopics
Hexapoda Ecology Subtopics
COEVOLUTION
Hexapoda Ecology Subtopics
COEVOLUTION

PARASITISM
Hexapoda Ecology Subtopics
COEVOLUTION

PARASITISM

PARASITOIDISM
Hexapoda Ecology Subtopics
COEVOLUTION

PARASITISM

PARASITOIDISM

COMMUNICATION
Hexapoda Ecology Subtopics
COEVOLUTION

PARASITISM

PARASITOIDISM

COMMUNICATION

SOCIAL INSECTS
 CO E VO LU T I O N

- Coevolution both exerts selective pressures on each other and

evolves in response to each other

- Coevolution of plants and insects is exhibited in herbivory and

pollination
 CO E VO LU T I O N

- In herbivory, plant evolves defenses and the insect responds

with counter offensives.

Apiaceae
Photo obtained from: http://www.interhomeopathy.org/sumbulus-moschatus-keeping-perfect-control
Photo obtained from: http://www.epharmacognosy.com/2012/04/biosynthesis-of-coumarin-and.html
 CO E VO LU T I O N

Carrot worm

A female black swallowtail butterfly, Papilio polynexes, is

attracted by these chemicals

Photo obtained from: http://ohioplants.org/families-apiaceae/

Photo obtained from: http://www.arbico-organics.com/product/celery-worm/problem-solver-guide

Photo obtained from: http://www.epharmacognosy.com/2012/04/biosynthesis-of-coumarin-and.html

 CO E VO LU T I O N

- In pollination, both participants evolve to maximize benefits

and minimize costs

- Adaptations include colors, odors, and nectars that attract insects

– some have high specificity

- The great diversity of floral structure largely reflects adaptations for facilitating
pollination
 CO E VO LU T I O N

Moth hovers over a flower

Photo obtained from: http://www.washington.edu/news/2014/06/26/foul-fumes-derail-dinner-for-hungry-moths/

 CO E VO LU T I O N

Monarch butterfly feeding on

flower nectar
Photo obtained from: http://magnusonkimball.photoshelter.com/image/I0000x6OmLKtjxCw/
 PA R A S I T I S M

• Insects are capable of parasitic nutrition.

• Parasitism is common and has evolved many

times.

• Juvenile or adult is parasitic so that different

stages exploit different food resources and habitat
 PARASITISM

Adult – Parasitic Juvenile – Conventional methods

Adult flea feeding on a cat Larva feeding on fecal blood

Photo obtained from: https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publichealth/insects/flea.html /

GIF obtained from: http://fleascience.com/flea-encyclopedia/life-cycle-of-fleas/flea-larvae/what-do-flea-larvae-eat/

 PARASITISM

Adult – Conventional methods Juvenile – Parasitic

Screwworm fly feeding on nectar Myiasis

Photo obtained from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochliomyia

Photo obtained from: http://www.monsterparent.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/b90b7980-547c-097f-cc8d-9bf568e12efc.jpg
 PARASITISM

• There are some that spend their entire life

cycle on the host

Lice

Photo obtained from: http://www.medicinenet.com/head_lice/article.htm

 PARASITOIDISM

• Parasitoidism combines features of parasitism

and predation.

• Parasitoids are smaller than their hosts and remain in contact with
them over long periods, but they eventually kill and consume the
host

• Hyperparasitoids are parasitoids that attack

parasitoids
 PARASITOIDISM
Three very large families of insects that are
dominantly parasitoids

Braconidae (Family) Ichneumonidae (Family) Tachinidae(Family)

Hymenoptera (Order) Hymenoptera (Order) Diptera (Order)
 PARASITOIDISM

Braconid wasp parasitoidizing a tomato hornworm

Photo obtained from:http://bugs.bio.usyd.edu.au/learning/resources/Entomology/internalAnatomy/imagePages/parasitoidWaspLarvae.html

 COMMUNICATION

• Hexapods use chemical, tactile, visual, and

auditory signals to communicate

• Communication is important to find mates, give

warnings about danger, tell about food sources
and etc.
 COMMUNICATION

• Pheromones are chemicals used to signal conspecifics.

They are used to attract one sex to the other.

Adult female gypsy moth Adult male gypsy moth

Photo obtained from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lymantria_dispar_8-8-2006_19-20-14.JPG

Photo obtained from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lymantria_dispar_MHNT_Fronton_Male.jpg
 COMMUNICATION

• Pheromones also mark trails or territories in

some species.

Ants

Photo obtained from: http://mute-net.sourceforge.net/howAnts.shtml

Photo obtained from: http://pestworldforkids.org/pest-guide/ants/
 COMMUNICATION

• Bioluminescent flashings of fireflies, which function in sexual attraction, is a

visual signal

Photinus
Photo obtained from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photinus_pyralis
 COMMUNICATION

• Sound can be produced by stridulation or the vibration of a membrane. In stridulation, a rough,

rasplike scraper is rubbed over a file to produce sound and is a characteristic of grasshoppers,
katydids, and crickets.

• Function in sexual attraction and aggression

• Allomone is a compound released by a source organism that has an adverse

effect on the target organism.

• E.g. Lacewing larvae release a gas that subdues the prey, and most
Hymenoptera produce venom to kill or immobilize the prey
 S O C I A L I N S EC TS

• Social organization, or eusociality, the highest development of

colonial organization, has evolved in only two taxa of insects:

Isoptera Hymenoptera

Termites Ants Bees

 S O C I A L I N S EC TS

Eusocial societies are recognizable by three chief

characteristics:

1. Members of the society cooperate in caring for the

juveniles
2. There is a reproductive division of labor, sterile
individuals performing the physical labor while
fertile is for reproduction
3. All eusocial insects exhibit some degree of
polymorphism, and the different types of
individuals in a colony are termed castes
Diversity of Hexapoda
Springtails

Collembola
Silverfishes

Zygentoma
Mayflies

Ephemeroptera
Dragonflies

Odonata
Grasshoppers, Katydids, Crickets, Locusts

Orthoptera
Termites

Isoptera
True bugs

Hemiptera
True bugs

Hemiptera
Stinkbugs, Squash bugs, Water striders

Heteroptera
Beetles

Coleoptera
Sawflies, ants, bees, and wasps

Hymenoptera
Butterflies, moths

Lepidoptera
True flies

Diptera