Historical Aspects of Human Interactions with Insects.
Egyptians
- dung beetles (Scarabaeidae) - sacred.
- rolling dung balls - celestial movements.
- importance of dung beetles.
China/Japan
- silk.
Greeks/Romans
- honeybees - honey valuable commodity.
Redi 1667 (examined "spontaneous generation").
- uncovered meat - maggots.
- covered meat - no maggots.
Malpighi 1669
- published a "major" description of an invertebrate.
- the silkworm.
Swammerdam 1675
- treatise on mayfly.
- anatomy of the honey bee.
Leeuwenhoek 1680
- described mites, fleas.
- parthenogenicity (reproduction without males) in aphids.
- viviparity (live young).
Fabricius 1775
- Systema Entomologica.
- last individual to attempt description of all known insects.
In Canada and USA
- early entomology developed with agriculture.
- e.g. T. W. Harris, Report on Insects Injurious to Vegetation 1841.
Why are insects so successful?
1. Body structure:
2. Small size: i. individual requires little food.i. exoskeleton - light, strong.
ii. terrestrial forms - wax coating prevents desiccation.
iii. metamorphosis - immatures and adults of a single species often exploit "different" habitats - reduces intraspecific competition.
i. individual requires little food.
ii. escape from enemies.
iii. dispersal (passive).
3. Adult flight:
i. dispersal (active flight).
ii. escape from enemies.
iii. utilize new/different habitat.
4. Reproductive capacity:
i. high reproductive capacities, (e.g. one female moth can produce 1500 eggs).
ii. short generation times (many species).
aphid - one week.
tundra moth - 14 years.