BIO 322 ENTOMOLOGY LABORATORY 11 FALL 2009

SIPHONAPTERA, MECOPTERA, DIPTERA, & STREPSIPTERA

In this lab, you will be studying the different morphological and behavioral characteristics of Dipteroids and their ecological and economical importance to humans. Note which are vectors of disease and how the diseases are transmitted.

Lab assignment

1) Illustrate the differences of the Order Mecoptera from the family Tipulidae.

2) Draw a diagram of Strepsiptera and Tipulidae and label the halters.

3) Draw the wings of Culicidae and Chironomidae.

4) Illustrate the difference between Syrphidae and Apidae.

5) Illustrate the major differences you would use to distinguish Sarcophagidae, Muscidae, Tachinidae and Calliphoridae.

BIOLOGY

1. Why have the flies been so adaptable in resource utilization? Why are there so many different kinds of ecological relationships within the order Diptera? They seem to be everywhere. Is there a key adaptation that has enabled the evolution of so many fly species?

2. Many fly species have been found living on humans and other mammals. Which fly families are involved, and what are the ecological niches of the species involved (Zumpt 1965)? Do you notice any aspects of morphology which seem to have converged among these different species?

3. From your experience with rearing calliphorid and/or sarcophagid flies, and your knowledge of other Diptera, how do you think that this kind of information can become important in the field of forensic entomology?

4. Many parasitic insect species on terrestrial vertebrates are wingless, including some flies, fleas, lice, earwigs and bugs. Whole orders have become wingless secondarily. What is the evolutionary explanation for this major convergence to aptery among the parasitic insects?

5. What evidence now makes us think that Strepsiptera is more closely related to Diptera than Coleoptera?

SYSTEMATICS

1. What can be learned about fly systematics and evolution from the structure of the larvae? Try to trace a sequence in the phylogeny of flies using general aspects of larval morphology in the order they are treated in your text, from primitive to derived (Stehr 1991).

Families to Know

Tipulidae (Crane flies)

Culicidae (Mosquitoes)

Ceratopogonidae (No-See-Ums, and Punkies)

Simuliidae (Black Flies)

Tabanidae (Horse and Deer Flies)

Asilidae (Robber Flies)

Bombyliidae (Bee Flies)

Syrphidae (Hover Flies)

Tephritidae (Fruit Flies)

Muscidae (House Flies)

Calliphoridae (Blow Flies)

Sarcophagidae (Flesh flies)

Tachinidae (Tachinid Flies)