ENT-501 INSECT MORPHOLOGY

Ms. Fatima Imtiaz Nizamani

Visiting Faculty
Chancellor’s Gold Medalist in B.Sc. (Hons) Agri
Ph.D. Scholar
Department of Entomology
Faculty of Crop Protection
Sindh Agriculture University
Tando Jam
Email: fatima830imtiaz@gmail.com
 INSECT HEAD
 The insect head externally consists of mouthparts,
compound eyes, simple eyes (ocelli) and a single pair
of antennae.
 And internally it consists of a major center of
neuroendocrine coordination.
 Insect head is a Anterior most part of insect body.
INSECT HEAD
 INTERNAL ORGANIZATION:-

 Formation With six (6) segments.

 3 Pre oral segments and

 3 Post oral Segments.

 INTERNAL ORGANIZATION:-

PREORAL SEGMENT:-

(Sclerotized)
a)Pre antennal Segment:- It is Occupied By
compound Eyes.

b)Antennal Segment:- Consists of Antennae.

c)Intercalary Segment:- It is Consists of Labrum.

 POST ORAL SEGMENT:-
(Membranous)

a)Mandibular Segment:- It is Consists of

Mandible.

b)Maxillary Segment:- It is consist of Maxillae.

c)Labial Segment:- It is consists of labium.

 WHY SIX (6)…….?
 INSECTS HAVE 6 LEGS.
 INSECTS HAVE 6 SPINES IN GIZZARD.
 INSECT HAVE 6 RECTAL PADS.
 INSECT HEAD HAS 6 DEVELOPMENTAL SEGMENTS.
 INSECTS HAVE 6 SCELERITE.
 INSSECTS HAVE 6 GANGLION INSIDE THE HEAD.
 6 SINOMTIC SPACE.
 Allah Pak Has Selected 6 number for insects.
EXOSKELETON OF INSECT HEAD:-
 The insect head is hard and highly sclerotized
compact structure which consisting of six segments
that are fused to form a head capsule.

 The insect head is called as Cranium.

 The dorsal part of the cranium is called as

Epi-cranium.
 The suture divide it into two parts called as
Epicranium suture.
STRUCTURE OF INSECT HEAD:-

 The head capsule is formed by the union of number

of sclerites which are joined together by means of
cuticular lines or ridges known as Sutures.
 These sutures provide mechanical support to the
insect head.
SCLERITE:-
 Any hard portion of the insect body is called as
sclerite.

SUTURE:-
 Any segment which divide the segment with each
other is called as suture .
 STRUCTURE OF INSECT HEAD:-

SCLERITES OF HEAD

1) Vertex : It is the tip of the head behind the frons or

the area between two compound eyes.

2) Frons : The Front of the head is called as Fron,

consists of a pair of furrow called as as Frontal furrow.

It can be termed as Face of the Insect.

 SCLERITES OF HEAD

3) Clypeus: Just below the fron there is a sclerite

called as Clypeus.

 The suture which divide the Fron with the

clypeus suture called as Fronto clypeus suture.

 Just below the clypeus mouth parts are present

and the suture which divides the clypeus with the
labrum is called as clypio-labrum suture.
 SCLERITES OF HEAD
4) Gena : The sides of the insect head is called as
Gena. It can be termed as Cheeks of the insect.

It is the area extending below the compound eyes and

just above the mandibles.

Gena is Further divided into Sub gena.

Occiput:- Generally, the term occiput is used only to
describe the posterior area immediately behind the vertex.

 It is an inverted “U” shaped structure representing the area

between the epicranium and post occiput .

 Suture between head capsule and occiput is called as

Occipital Suture.

Post Occiput:- It is Segment behind the occiput is called as

Post occiput.
 And the suture between occiput and post occiput is called as Post
Occipital Suture.
 TENTORIUNM:-
Provide attachment for the muscles of antennae and head.

Anterior Tentorial Pit:- (ATP):-

It is located at the anterior portion of the insect head. Which
provides invagination for the muscles attachment of internal
skeleton.

Posterior Tentorial Pit:- (PTP)

It is located at the basal part of the post occiput and neck
membrane. Which provides invagination for the muscles
attachment of internal skeleton of the insect head.
 INSECT NECK MEMBRANE
(CERVIX):-
The neck or cervix is a membranous region which gives
freedom of movement to the head.
It extends from the post- occiput at the back of the
head to the prothorax.
Lateral view of Insect Head
 Endoskeleton of Insect Head

 Endoskeleton of Head is called as Tentorium

(ingrowths of cuticle) – help in reinforcing the head
capsule, cradles the brain, and provides a rigid origin
for muscles of the mandibles and other mouthparts.
 ENDOSKELETON OF INSECT HEAD:-
a) ANTERIOR ARM:- It is originated from Anterior
tentorial pit.

b) POSTERIOR ARM:- It is originated from Posterior

tentorial pit.
c) CARPOTENTORIUM:- It is originated from tentorial
bridge which is located behind the posterior tentorial pit.

d) DORSAL ARM:- It is originated from the area between

anterior tentorial pit and posterior tentorial pit. This
section form two horn like structure which are called as
Dosrsal Tentorial Arm.
ENDOSKELETON OF INSECT
HEAD
 ORIENTATION INSECT HEADS
1) Hypognathous

Greek (Hypo – Below: Gnathous – Jaw )

 The head remain vertical and is at right angle to the long axis
of the body and mouth parts are ventrally placed and
projected downwards. This is also kwown as Orthopteroid
type.
 This orientation occurs most commonly in phytophagous
species living in open habitats.
 Eg: Grass hopper, Cockroach.
2) Prognathous

Greek (Pro – Infront: Gnathous – Jaw

 The head remains in the same axis to the body and
mouth parts are projected forward.
 This is found in predaceous species that actively
pursue their prey, and in larvae, particularly of
Coleoptera, which use their mandibles in burrowing.
 This is also known as Coleopteroid type.

 Example: Beetles.
 3) Opisthognathous:-

Greek (Opistho – behind: Gnathous – Jaw )

 It is same as prognathous but mouthparts are
directed backward and held in between the fore legs.
 This is also known as Hemipteroid or
Opisthorhynchous.
 Example:- Bugs
Orientation Insect Head
 FUNCTIONS OF HEAD:-
 Food Ingestion

 Sensory perception

 Coordination

 Protects Brain