REPORT PAPER

IN

PARASITOLOGY

TOPIC: ARTHROPODS

Phylum Arthropoda
Subphyla: A. Chelicerata (cheli = a claw, hoof) - has the first pair of appendages modified as pincer-like mouthparts called chelicerae (these are the fangs in spiders). Their bodies are divided into acephalothorax (cephalo = head) and an abdomen. Classes: 1. Xiphosura (xipho = a sword; ura = tail) are called horseshoe crabs because of the horseshoe-shaped carapace covering the cephalothorax. Their abdomen is thin, long, and pointed, hence the class name. They are marine, typically found in intertidal areas. 2. Arachnida (arachni = spider) includes scorpions, mites and ticks, daddy-long-legs, and spiders. They have simple eyes on top of their cephalothorax. The first pair of appendages is modified as chelicerae, small pincer-like mouthparts, which are further modified as fangs in spiders. The second pair of appendages is modified as pedipalps (pedi = foot; palpi = a feeler), which in spiders, look like small legs, but in scorpions are modified as large pincers (to capture food and for defense). Arachnids have four pairs of walking legs. Occasionally there are other appendages, like the spinnerets in spiders. Arachnids breathe via book lungs. a. Order Scorpionida (scorpions) - which have a poison sting at the tip of their abdomen, just above their anus. b. Order Phalangida (phalang = finger, toe) - the daddy-long-legs and harvestmen, which have long, slender legs, are not spiders, and do not spin webs. c. Order Araneida or Araneae (aranea, aranei = spider) - which have the chelicerae modified as fangs with poison glands (used to paralyze prey), have spinnerets on the abdomen from which they produce silk for their webs, and are beneficial predators. B. Crustacea (crusta = crust, rind) - includes crayfish and lobsters, crabs, pillbugs, and several other groups. They have gills, thus terrestrial pillbugs need to maintain a 100% humidity environment around their gills to be able to breathe. Crustaceans have the head and thorax combined into one body region, the cephalothorax, as well as an abdomen. They have two pairs of antennae, mandible-type mouthparts (of different evolutionary origin than mandibles in insects), and other mouthparts which include two pairs of maxillae and three pairs of maxillipeds, all of which are formed from modified appendages.

C. Atelocerata (formerly Mandibulata) - includes insects, centipedes (centi = 100), and millipedes (milli = 1000). Centipedes and millipedes dont really have 100 or 1000 legs, but they do have lots. Members of this subphylum have one pair of antennae, mandibles (mandibul = jaw), and two other pairs of mouthparts (either two pairs of maxillae or one pair of maxillae plus a labium), which are modified appendages. Note that their mandibles are modified appendages and are NOT homologous to our mouth or teeth. Classes: 1. Chilopoda (chilo = lip) is the centipedes. Their bodies are divided into head and trunk regions. The first pair of legs on the trunk is modified as poison jaws to capture and kill prey and assist mouthparts (also used for defense). On the trunk region, centipedes have one pair of appendages per segment. Centipedes are predatory/carnivores, and do have a poisonous bite to subdue their prey. 2. Diplopoda (diplo = double, two) is the millipedes. They also have head and trunk regions. Many of their trunk segments are actually two segments fused together into one apparent segment. Thus millipedes appear to have two pairs of legs per apparent segment. As their name would suggest, millipedes generally have more legs than centipedes, and the segmental pairing of legs is pretty obvious. Millipedes are scavengers, so its highly unlikely that one would bite if handled. Some millipedes are able to secrete small amounts of toxic chemicals like cyanide to protect themselves if threatened. While this is not enough to be a threat to humans, it has been reported that if an appropriate millipede is enclosed in a small jar and shaken, it will emit enough cyanide to kill itself and any insects placed in the jar with it (I do not recommend killing animals just to watch them die).

3. Hexapoda or Insecta (hexa = 6) is the insects. Insects have three body regions: head, three-segmented thorax (prothorax, mesothorax, and metathorax), and abdomen. Most also have both compound and simple eyes; mouthparts (covered by a labrum in front, and highly modified in some orders) which include mandibles, maxillae, and a labium; three pairs of walking legs, one on each of the three thoracic segments. Many insects have wings, which are NOT modified appendages, merely flaps of the exoskeleton of the meso- and metathoracic segments. There are about 28 to 30 orders of insects, depending on whose classification scheme youre using. Insects exhibit one of two types of metamorphosis. Those with gradual metamorphosis change from egg to nymph to adult. In these insects (grasshoppers, roaches, true bugs), the nymphs look like miniature adults without wings, usually living

in the same environment and eating the same food. Insects with complete metamorphosis go from egg to larva to pupa to adult (larva = ghost, specter; pupa = doll). Larvae of these insects look very different from the adults, usually live in a totally different environment and eat different food. The pupa is a resting stage where much transformation takes place. Probably the example of complete metamorphosis with which most people are familiar is that of a caterpillar (larva) changing to a chrysalis (pupa) then to a butterfly (adult). a. Order Orthoptera (ortho = straight; ptera = wing, feather) - grasshoppers, katydids, and crickets - these have jumping back (metathoracic) legs. The front wings are modified as leathery tegmina, and the hind wings are membranous. Their mouthparts are regular chewing mouthparts. Orthopterans have XO sex determination: an individual with two X chromosomes (XX) is a female, and an individual with only one X chromosome (often referred to as XO where the O means nothing there there is no Y chromosome) are males. - Gradual metamorphosis b. Order Diptera (di = two) - flies and mosquitoes - their hind wings are modified as knob-like balance structures called halteres (singular = halter, halter = a weight held to give impetus in leaping), so they look like they have only one pair (= 2) wings. Most flies have sponging mouthparts (like houseflies that walk around tasting things as they go), although some have sharp, cutting mandibles. These bite a host, then sponge up the blood. The piercingsucking mouthparts of mosquitoes are notorious, but interestingly, only female mosquitoes bite people: they need the protein from a blood meal for their developing eggs. - Complete metamorphosis c. Order Siphonaptera (siphon = tube; a- = not, without) - fleas - adult fleas have sucking mouthparts and suck blood from their host (cat, dog, etc.). They are wingless and parasitic, with flattened bodies, the better to crawl between their hosts hair. Adults are also able to jump (which aids them in moving to a new host). - Eggs laid by the females fall off into carpeting, the pets bedding, etc., where they hatch. The larvae live in rugs and the pets bedding and feed on organic material there.

they pupate in silk cocoons, often in the crevice between the rug and a table leg. In the Middle Ages, Bubonic Plague (Black Death) was spread by the bite of rat fleas infected with the bacterium. Complete metamorphosis

d. Order Lepidoptera (lepido = scale) - includes butterflies, skippers, and moths. - the larvae are called caterpillars. Butterflies and moths are characterized by colorful scales on the wings of the adults. The adults have siphoning mouthparts if present (some adult moths lack functional mouths and do not eat). - SOME moths spin cocoons, and we get silk from one (Bombyx mori). - The lowly silkworm is of great economic importance, and wars have been fought and empires founded on silk, not to mention Louis Pasteurs career. Pupae in butterflies are called chrysalises. - Many moths pupate underground, but those that do spin a cocoon subsequently molt to a pupa inside the cocoon, then molt to adult before coming out. Butterflies and moths use the ZW system of sex determination: females are heterogametic or ZW and males arehomogametic or ZZ. Thus, the sex of the offspring is determined by the type of egg (Z or W) which the mother produces, not by the fathers sperm which are all Z. - Complete metamorphosis