Metamorphism in Insects

Metamorphism in Insects
BSC 1ST YEAR ZOOLOGY

Metamorphosis
 The term metamorphosis is derived from two greek words meta(change) and morphe
(form)that means change in form.
 Insect metamorphosis is defined as the transformation of an immature larval individual into a
sexually mature adult of different form, structure and habit of life.
 After hatching an insect undergoes a series of ecdyses or cast off its integument and attains a
maximum size.
 Insects show following type of metamorphosis-
1.ametabolic or no metamorphosis,
2.hemimetabolic or incomplete metamorphosis
3.heterometabolic or gradual metamorphosis and
4.holometabolic or complete metamorphosis.
Ametabolic metamorphosis:
 In lower insects of orders Collembola(Spring tails) and

Thysanura(Silver fish), the young which hatches from an egg is a
miniature of adult(Nymph).
 Nymph differ from the adult in having immature reproductive
organs .
 After several moulting and growth it becomes an adult.
 These are primitively wingless so they are also called
Apterygota.eg. Lepisma
 Also known as ametabolous development.
Hemimetabolic metamorphosis:
 Also known as incomplete metamorphosis.

 The immature stages are called as nymphs.
 Immature stages are aquatic and they respire with the help of
tracheal gills.
 But the adults are terrestrial and respire with the help of
tracheae.
 Eg. Odonata (Dragon fly), Homoptera (Aphids), Isoptera
(Termites)
Heterometabolic metamorphsis:
 Also known as gradual metamorphosis.

 The newly hatched young ones resemble the adult in general body
form but lacks wings and external genital appendages.
 The young nymphs undergo several nymphal stages through
successive moulting to transform into adult.
 Eg. Hemiptera (sting bug),
Holometabolic metamorphosis:
 Also known as complete metamorphosis.

 In this type, four metamorphic stages are included namely egg,
larva, pupa and adult.
 After hatching larva moults several times to become fully grown
one.
 Later becomes a pupa within a secreted case called as puparium.
 Inside the puparium, the pupa differentiates into adult.
 Then breaks open the case to emerge out.
 Eg. Lepidoptera(Moths, Butterflies), Diptera(Flies),
Siphonoptera (Fleas), Hymenoptera (Wasps, bees)
Contd-
 The larvae of holometabolous insects bear no resemblance to their adult.

 Their habitats and food sources may be entirely different from the adults as well.
 Unique names for their larval forms: butterfly and moth larvae are caterpillars; fly
larvae are maggots, and beetle larvae are grubs.
 The pupal stage is usually considered a resting phase, although many active changes
are occurring internally, hidden from view.
Social behavior of Insects
BSC 1ST YEAR ZOOLOGY
Social behaviour:
 Any interaction between two or more individuals constitutes social behaviour.

 Various types of associations occur among insects.
1. Solitary insects: Each individual is more or less independent. Two sexes come in
contact only to mate.
2 . Gregarious insects: Form temporary aggregation of individuals in response to
physical environmental factors or to share certain common needs or tracts.
3. Social insects: Insect of a certain species that live together in organized groups
or colonies. Each contributes in some specialized way.
Social insects:
 The social insects belongs to different orders.The important ones are –

 Isoptera (Termites)
 Coleoptera (Beetles)
 Hymenoptera (Bees, waps,ants)
Eusociality
An extreme form of social behavior found in just a few types of animals and is
characterized by the following:
 Occurrence of polymorphic forms each assigned with a different function.
 Worker members of the colony which provide food and care for the reproductive
classes and the early developmental stages of the colony.
 Division of labour with queens that reproduce a lot of insects.
 The presence of several generations in a single hive/nest at the same time.
General characteristics of social insects:
1. Large population:
 All the individuals of the social insects species live in an integrated manner.
 Hence the term colony is commonly used to describe their complex society.
 All the members of the colony are the offspring of a single female and so all of them
have similar genotype (Matriarch).
 These colonies do not accept the members form other colonies of same species.
Contd-
2. Polymorphism:
 Occurrence of several forms within the same species.
 It refers to specialization of individuals within a species.
 In the animals exhibiting polymorphism, individuals at the center of the colony
develop gonads and reproduce sexually.
 Individuals at the periphery expose themselves to danger of combat, and do not
reproduce sexually.
 The social insects are the most prominent examples of super-organisms.
 They are found in two orders of class Insecta namely Isoptera and Hymenoptera.
Contd-
 Termites included in the order Isoptera have typical sexual reproduction, and ants,
bees and wasps included in order Hymenoptera have haplo-diploid sex
determination.
 The general structure of these super-organisms is that there are only one or very few
reproductive females, small numbers of reproductive males, and large numbers of
non-reproductives that provide food and care for the reproductives and the early
developmental stages of the colony.
 In termites, non-reproductives include are both male and female where as in
Hymenoptera the non-reproductives include only females.
Contd-
3. Extra populations:
 Some aphids, beetles, mites etc. are attracted into the nests of ants and termites by
the high temperature and surplus food.
 These extra populations are protected and fed by the ants and termites.
 In return the ant and termite populations feed on a fluid secreted by them.
 Sometimes intruders and thieves rob the social insects of their food.
 Some beetles live in the nest of the ant and feed on the ant larvae.
 All these form the extra populations of the social insects.
Contd-
4. Elaborate nest:
 The nests of all social insects are rich in
structure which helps in protection,
storage of food and maintenance of
broods.
 The following table summarizes the nest
richness of various social insects:
Contd-
5. Parental care:
 An instinct behavior whereby the young ones are provided with food, shelter and
defense by the parents as a part of the family relationship.
 The social life in insects is linked with parental care.
 Parental care includes activities like providing the young ones with food, cleaning
the nests, feeding the young and queen, removal of debris and bodies, arranging eggs
in proper chambers, protecting the queen from all adversities, cooling the nest in
summer season.
Contd-
6. Trophallaxis:
 Exchange or sharing of food between the insects of different species is called as trophallaxis.
 For example, termites and ants feed each other from mouth to mouth. Similarly young ones exchange
food with the adults.
 Also beetles, aphids and coccids are fed by ants and then in return ants drink a fluid secreted by them
(mutual feeding).
 Trophallaxis is an important phenomenon in determination and regulation of castes in termite colony.
 During trophallaxis, ectohormones with certain inhibitory substances are passed on to the young
nymphs and this prevents them from developing into individuals of same sex or caste.
 Consequently the number of individuals in a particular caste is maintained.
Contd-
7. Swarming:
 The behaviour of the insects to come out of the nest in large numbers to relieve the
overcrowding is called as swarming.
 It takes place during spring or early summer seasons.
 Swarming occurs for feeding and migration.
 It is also a means of the colony reproduction or in other words founding of new
colonies.
 The queen and the males mate during swarming flight and this is also known as
nuptial or marriage flight.
Contd-
8. Communication:
 Communication is an interesting feature found both in social and nonsocial insects.
 Insects use chemical, visual, tactile and auditory signals as a means of
communication with each other.
 Chemical communication occurs with the help of body secretions called pheromones.
 Pheromones pass out of the body and help in regulating and coordinating the colony
activities.
 For example, ants deposit substances on their way which act as trail markers and
help them return to their homes after foraging trip.
SOCIAL ORGANIZATION OF TERMITES:
 The termite life cycle has the three castes, the reproductives,
the soldiers and the workers.
 In case of termites, once the caste of an individual is
determined, development into other castes is still possible.
 Soldiers also called as inter-castes, may turn into workers or
even into reproductives, if there is a shortage of individuals of
other castes.
 In the case of the queen, there is a specific ‘queen’ pheromone,
preventing other individuals from turning into queens.
SOCIAL ORGANIZATION OF APIS
 There are three types of individuals in a colony, namely

the Queen, worker and drone.
 Due to the existence of several morphological forms,
bees are said to be a polymorphic species.
 All these three castes depend on each other for their
existence.
 Drones and queen are concerned only with reproductive
function and so the workers have to perform all the
other duties of the colony.

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Metamorphism in Insects

BSC 1ST YEAR ZOOLOGY

 In lower insects of orders Collembola(Spring tails) and

 Also known as incomplete metamorphosis.

 Also known as gradual metamorphosis.

 Also known as complete metamorphosis.

 The larvae of holometabolous insects bear no resemblance to their adult.

 Any interaction between two or more individuals constitutes social behaviour.

 The social insects belongs to different orders.The important ones are –

 There are three types of individuals in a colony, namely

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