adaptations in insects part 1

1.       Cybister

a.       Habit: it feeds on small fishes. It is positively phototropic. It is an active swimmer.

b.      Habitat: aquatic, occurs in deep water.

c.       Role in ecosystem: it is a secondary consumer.

d.      Adaptations:

i.                     Strucrural adaptations: forewings modified into horny elytra, hind wints are membranous, folded beneath the elytra.

ii.                   Feeding adaptations: mouth parts consists of strong mandibles.

iii.                  Respiratory adaptations: antennae are hydrofuge structures and can hold air balls containing oxygen for respiration.

iv.                 Flight adaptations: wing muscles of both sides are not fused together below the scutellum, therefore it is an active flier.

2.       hydrophilus olivaceous:

a.       habit: predacious, carnivorous.

b.      Habitat: aquatic habitat. It lives near vegetation. It is shade loving.

c.       Role in ecosystem: it is secondary consumer.

d.      Adaptations:

i.                     Structural adaptation: forewings modified into horny elytra, hind wings membranous, folded beneath elytra, body stream linexd.

ii.                   Feeding adaptations: mouth parts mandibulate adapted for biting.

iii.                  Respiratory adaptations: ventral surface of the body is with a set of hydrofuge hairy structures. It can hold an air film for respiratory purpose. Antennae are above hudrofuge structures and can hold air balls near the spiracles.

iv.                 Swimming adaptations: it is an active swimmer. Appendages are fringed with hairs.

v.                   Adaptations for defence: it has a metasternal keel for defence.

3.       Laccotrephes maculatus:

a.       Habit: it is phytophagous, positively phototrophic.

b.      Habitat: aquatic; is a bottom dweller and liver in mud.

c.       Role in ecosystem: primary consumer.

d.      Adaptations:

i.                     Structural adaptations: fore wings are chitinized to form hemielytra.

ii.                   Feeding adaptation: first pair of legs are pre-hensile and adapted for catching food. Mouth parts of piercing and sucking type.

iii.                  Respiratory adaptation: respiratory tube consists of 2-spine like processes.

iv.                 Swimming adaptations: body is slender, appendages are fringed with hair.

4.       Ranatra elongata

a.       Habit: it feeds upon sap of plants. It is positively phototropic.

b.      Habitat: aquatic; swims on the surface of water,

c.       Role in ecosystem:  it is primary consumer.

d.      Adaptations:

i.                     Structural adaptation: for wings are chitinized to form hemielytra.

ii.                   Feeding adaptations: mouth parts are of piercing and sucking type.

iii.                  Respiratory adaptation: respiratory siphon present.

iv.                 Swimming adaptation: body is slender, appendages are ringed with hair. Walking legs are prominent and are also adapted for walking on bottom of the aquatic habitat,

5.       Lethocerus indicus (giant water bug)

a.       Habit: it feed rapaciously upon small fishes, tadpole, youngs, frogs, and insects. It is positively phototropic.

b.      Habitat: aquatic habitat; it clings to vegetation submerged in the bottom.

c.       Role in the ecosystem: pest of fishes, it is secondary consumer

d.      Adaptations:

i.                    Feeding adaptations: mouth parts are of piercing and sucking type.

ii.                  Respiratory adaptation:  it has a pair of respiratory siphons at the hind end. It breaths oxygen by piercing the surface film with the apex of the abdomen

iii.                Swimming adaptation:  body is stream lined, dorsoventrally flattened, so it overcomes friction in water easily, appendages are oar-like and fringed with hair.

iv.                 Colonization: it flies readily from one water piece to the another and just occupy a different habitat. But it is restricted flier. This is because wing muscles of both sides fuse together below the scutellum.

6.       Diplonuchus annulatum:

a.       Habit:  it feeds upon plant sap, mainly on hydrilla. It is positively phototropic.

b.      Habitat: aquatic; fresh water.

c.       Role in ecosystem:  it is primary consumer.

d.      Adaptations:

i.                    Structural adaptations: body is oval in shape. Forewings modified into horny hemielytra. Hind wings are membtanous. Folded bjeath the elytra.

ii.                  Feeding adaptations: mouth parts of piercing and sucking type.

iii.                Respiratory adaptation: it has a pair of respiratory siphon at the hind end. It takes oxygen through this siphon.

iv.                 Appendages are oar like and fringed with hair.

v.                   Parental care: the male carries eggs on it back till they are hatched;