BIOL 286

Lecture 14
THE APTERYGOTES
 OUTLINE
I. CLASS INSECTA: brief introduction

II. THE APTERYGOTES

Entognathous apterygotes:
 ORDER COLLEMBOLA
Ectognathous apterygotes:
 ORDER MICROCORYPHIA
 ORDER THYSANURA
 I. CLASS INSECTA
The Class Insecta is divided into 2 subclasses:

1) THE APTERYGOTA
• These are wingless insects and they evolved from a wingless ancestor.
• It includes orders:
Collembola, (Protrura, Diplura), Microcoryphia ) and Thysanura.

2) THE PTERYGOTA
• It includes winged or wingless insects.
• All evolved from a winged ancestor.
• Any wingless form results from secondarily loss of wings
(as an adaptation to a specific lifestyle).
• It includes all the rest of the orders.
 II. THE APTERYGOTES
The Apterygotes are primitive, wingless insects
that never had wings in their evolutionary history.

They include:
A. Entognathous insects:
– Orders: Protrura, Diplura, and Collembola.
B. Ectognathous insects:
– Orders: Microcoryphia and Thysanura.
A. Entognathous Apterygotes
ORDER COLLEMBOLA
SPRINGTAILS
 ORDER COLLEMBOLA
• Common name: SPRINGTAILS
• Primitive, apterygotes
• Wingless insects
• Entognathous
• Minute insects with reduced
compound eyes.
• (Body length: 1-6 mm long)
 CHARACTERISTICS OF SPRINGTAILS
• Chewing mouthparts

• Ametabolous (no change in form) and molting continues after

sexual maturity

• No malpighian tubules:
Excretion by labial (salivary) glands and storage excretion.

• Body with only 6 abdominal segments ABDOMEN

 SPRINGTAILS HAVE UNIQUE FEATURES
Springtails possess 3 modified abdominal
appendages on their ventral side:
1. A collophore:
- tube-like appendage on A1,
- which functions in water uptake.
2. A tenaculum
- clasp-like appendage, on A3
3. A furcula
- forked structure on A4
The furcula and tenaculum form a springing organ,
used for jumping and as escape mechanism.
Review of springtail anatomy
 THE SPRINGING MECHANISM
• At rest, the furcula is folded inward and held by the
tenaculum.
• When the springtail is disturbed, the furcula is suddenly
released, thus, propelling the insect through air.
• Hence, jumping is a defense mechanism.
• A springtail is 3-6 mm long and it may leap 75-100 mm
backward.
 HABITAT AND LIFESTYLES
Habitat:
Moist soil (under bark, in leaf mold, in decaying matter…)

Feeding:
a. Most feed on decayed plant matter, fungi, bacteria, pollen,
arthropod feces, algae…
A few are garden and greenhouse pests (feed on mushrooms,
alfalfa…).

b. One unusual group lives on the head of soldier termites in

termites’ colonies. The collembolans steal food as the soldier
termites are being fed by the worker termites.
 SPRINGTAIL BEHAVIOR
Mating:
a. No external genitalia
b. Males deposit spermatophores on the ground.
c. In most species, males maintain ‘sperm
gardens’ (groups of spermatophores on the
soil); some deposit spermatophores only in
presence of females.

Natural Enemies:
Springtails are subject to predation by mites,
centipedes, ants, beetles.
 B. Ectognathous Apterygotes
THE BRISTLE TAILS
ORDERS
MICROCORYPHIA AND THYSANURA
 CHARACTERISTICS OF BRISTLE TAILS
• Apterygotes: wingless

• Ectognathous

• Ametabolous (molt throughout their life)

• Closest relatives to the winged insects:

11 abdominal segments

• Chewing mouthparts
Distinguishing features of
bristle tails:

3 (caudal) tails

Some abdominal styli:

 Rudimentary abdominal
appendages
 (on A2-A9) used in locomotion.

Body covered with scales.

 1. ORDER MICROCORYPHIA
Called the Jumping Bristle Tails

(Small insects: 7-15 mm long)

 They have a cylindrical body, covered
with pigmented scales.
 They have eversible water vesicles,
found at the base of abdominal styli.
They are used for water uptake.
 Their compound eyes are large and
contiguous (often touching).
Check the eversible
vesicles at the base of the
abdominal styli (ventral
side of abdomen) Check the large and contiguous compound eyes
 Escape mechanism
• Their thorax is arched.
• They can jump by arching
their body then slamming
down the abdomen.
• They jump when they are
disturbed.
Habitat and Lifestyle:
• Microcoryphians are found in dry habitats; on the soil
surface: under bark/leaf litter/stones/dead wood...

• They are nocturnal (or crepuscular).

• They feed on decaying vegetation (leaf litter), algae

and fungi.

• (Note: They live in the wild and do not enter houses)

Reproduction:
Indirect internal fertilization.
Males deposit spermatophores on the ground.
Spermatophores are picked up by females, which
lack spermathecae.

Enemies:
Jumping bristle tails are preyed upon by spiders,
centipedes, and some beetles.
2. ORDER THYSANURA
THE BRISTLE TAILS
 THYSANURAN’S FEATURES

• Their body is flat.

• They cannot jump.
• They are agile and can run very
fast (escape mechanism).
• Their compound eyes are small
and largely separated.
• They lack water eversible vesicles.
 LIFESTYLES
• Bristletails are omnivorous:
feeding on vegetation and all sorts of starchy
material.

• The order includes 2 domestic/household

pests: silverfish and firebrats.
• These feed on starchy substances: can attack
book-bindings, glues, linens, silk, wall
papers…
• They can produce the enzyme cellulase (so
can digest cellulose).
Silverfish:
• Gray in color (around 12 mm long).
• They are found in cool, damp/moist
situations.
• For example: basements, bathrooms,
libraries, shelves, closets…

Firebrats:
• Tan/brown in color.
• They are found in warmer (hotter) and moist
places.
• For example: around boilers, furnaces,
steampipes, bakeries…
BOTH SILVERFISH AND FIREBRATS ARE LIVING
PROOF OF EXCESSIVE MOISTURE.
To get rid of them:
- Reduce moisture/humidity (ventilate; use
dehumidifiers…)
- Remove old stacks of papers, boxes, newspapers,
books, and fabrics, from basements, attics and
garages.
- Transfer rest of food to containers
- Clean, wipe, spray, and vacuum
- Use sticky traps..
- Chemicals as last resort!
Mating
Males deposit spermatophores on the ground.
Some secrete silken threads to guide the
females to the spermatophores.

Enemies
They are eaten by spiders, centipedes, beetles…
END