Insects make up

the highest proportion of earth's organism

- 5 mill yet to be discovered

- make up 50% of species

Biodiversity

number and variety of species in an ecosystem

Insect biomass

* ants and termites present 33% of all animal biomass in Amazonian rainforest

number of individuals per species impressive

Adaptive radiation

* determined by the richness of plants species which insects feed

evolutionary divergence of members in a single lineage INTO a series of adaptive zones with different niches

Adaptive zone

life common group of characterized species mechanisms to exploit it

Radiation of beetles have many adapative zones such as

* most diverse in the planet

- leaf feeding

- wood boring

- dung feeding

- aquatic predators

What are the setbacks for Biodiversity?

Be measured at any scale

** Due to size

** Numerous species hard to get through

** Alot of representation of biomass so the chances of counting the same species twice will be high

Mouthpart adaptation allow insects

to diversify their nutritional resources

Mouthparts may vary between immature and adult species, causing

** gives rise to biodiversity bc they give them better adaptation

Separate ecological niches

What adaptations give rise to insect biodiversity?

- Flying

- Metamorphosis

- Diverse niches

Adaptive radiation

* determined by the richness of plants species which insects feed

Evolutionary divergence of members in a single lineage INTO a series of adaptive zones with different ecological niches

Coevolution

when two or more species impact each others evolutionary trajectory

Half of all insect species are

phytophagous

More than 2/3 of flowering plants are

insect pollinated

Plants have developed specific traits to

attract/trick insects into pollinating them

Ex. Proboscis(a long stem connected to an animal used to pollinate)

Fun Fact: Xanthopan Morganii praedicta was observed feeding on nectars of orchids and transferring pollen

Fig tress are pollinated by

fig wasps

Female fig wasps will enter the syconium (false fruit)

to lay its eggs{ carries them into new place}

Selective pressure have led to
Ex. german cockroaches

insects adapted to human environments such as our food, homes

Aedes aegypti

* constrained in forests of Africa

yellow fever mosquito

* well adapted to urban environments

* Anthropophilic - an important vector

german cockroaches are not found in

natural environments, only their close relatives

Ae. aegypti aegypti developed preference for

human scent, spread alongside ppl

Termites require

* trichonympha found in guts

symbiotic flagellates to digest cellulose

Aphids require symbiont to

provide amino acids

Loiasis

* Filarial worms spread by deerflies

migrate to surface of skin when flies are most active

Malaria

has required both mosquitoes and human host to complete reproduction and development