CHAPTER 6

Arthropods and Mollusks

of Medical Importance

Introduction to Arthropods of Medical Importance

L llian A. de las Llagas

O hail I h ' hme, m aj o r hde v:n ' omn,s

or phyla

kingdom,

Phylum Arthropoda is certainlr one of the

most important. Eighty-five percent of a]]

known animals are arthropods. These are

bilaterally symmetrical invertebrate animals

with segmented bodies, jointed appendagcs,

and hard purer coverings or exoskelaons. No

other animal group demonstrates such a great

di*ersiV in structure, life cede, and habits. The

arthropods range in size from the Atlas moth

with a wingspread af 12 inches, to the sma]]

follicle mite, less Man 1/250 ofan inch long.

Some arthropods are parasitic, while most

are nonparasitic. Some prefer to live in highly

organized and complex en~ ironments in which

each member contributes something to others

in a symbiotic relationship.
There ar© two types of metamorphoses:

Graded or incQmpLe;e maamoQbosb.

in this type of metamorphosis, an

arthropod undergoes three stages;

egg, nymph, and adult. The young

resembles the adult except for the

smaller size and sexual immaturity.

Examples o£' arthropods exhibiting

his indude cockroaches, grasshoppers,

lice, and bugs.

compo" this type

of metamorphosis, an arthropod

undergoes four stages: lar.-a, pups,

and adult. Therc is a great difference

between the immature stages and

rhe adults. Examples of these are

mosquitoes, dies, butterHies, moths,

ants, bees, wasps, fleas, and beetles.

Arthropods are found o'erywhere, whether

it is in mountains, swamps, deserts, cities, or

change in morphologr throughout the different counuyside. Their presence in any environment

Life stage, while others p"s through a Complete rejects heir capability ta adapt, propagate, and

establish colonies.

Arthropods are provided with specia]

mechanisms that they use against their

or structure ofan archropod that occurs during enemies: the chitinized exoskeleton, primarily

nilrogenow polysaccharide thai n:akes the

integument imperious to n'acer; appendages

a.ese insects, the young is the exact replica of that may be lost and later regenerated; hairs,
saks, or spines; and body guide that may

used eFKtivelr for their survivai.

Nlany arthropods have complicated life

histories. In some, die entire life qcle is not

completely known. Some demonstrate little

metamorphosis having egg, land, pupal, and

adult stages.

Metamorphosis infers to the chanSe in form

the period of development. A few primitive

insects develop without metamorphosis. In

Ehe adult diKbiing only in size.

ClassIfIcatIon of Arthropods

Phylum Arthropoda comprises at least

740,000 species. The majority of medically

important arthropods can bc grouped into two

dasses: Insecta and Arachnida. Other classes,

which are also important, are Chilopoda,

Diplopoda, Crustacea, and Pentastomida

(Table 6. 1).

A. Head

The head bears the eyes, antennae, and the

mouthparts. The antennae are !ocated in the

front portion ofthe head bctwccn the eyes. They

are greatly modified, often having characteristic

champs

Two types of eyes occur in insects: simple

and compound. Simple eyes or ocelli consist of

single eyc units or facets. Compound eyes are

usually very large and maybe round, oval, or

kidnap-shaped. The outer face ofthe compound

eye is composcd ofmany small six-sided lenses

called faccts. In general, the active flying insects

have large eyes with many facets, while the

walking types have fewer facets. Some parasitic

insects have poorly developed eyes, as in some

leas.

Insects have an upper lip or labrum, a lower

lip or labium, a pair of maxillae or upper jaw,

and a pair ofmandibles or lower jaw. The shapes

and sizes of these structures vary according

to the insects' feeding habits. There are four

principal types of mouthparts:

1. Chewing moahparts

These are exemplified by cockroaches and

silver6sh, which use their mouthparts to grind,

solid food. The mandibles are users.tl in cutting

or tearing food apart. The maxillae, labrum, and

labium are used in handling food before it is

swallowed. The palpi are used to feel, smell, and

taste food. T'hose appendages are provided with

hairs whore rhp variniis senses arr ronrfnrrnrpd

2. Sponging rTnuthpans

This type, as exemplified by houseflies,

is adapted for sucking up liquid or readily

soluble foods. The mandibles are absent, and

the maxillae are represented only by the palps.

The labrum and labium fuse to form a proboscis

with a spongy tip called the labellum. The insect

regurgitates saliva co dissolve the food. Then,

the capillary grooves at the base ofthe labellum

carry the liquefied food to the food canal inside

the proboscis (Figure 6.4).

3. Piercing-sucking modhparts

These are exempliliad by mosquitoes,

biting flies, sucking lice, fleas, and kissing bugs.

The mandibles, labrum, and maxillae are long

and slender. The labium forms a stout sheath,

which holds these structures, and the entire

structure is called the proboscis (Figure 6.5).

4. Chewing-lapping mouthparts

An example of an insect having this type

of mouthparts is the honeybee. Mandibles and

maxillae are of the chewing type and are used

for grasping prcy or for molding wax or nest

material (Figure 6.6).

B. Thorax

This is the second main body region which

is connected to the head by a membranous

region, called the neck or cervix. This part bears

three segments, namely prothorax, mesothorax,

and metathorax. Each segment bears a pair of

walking legs. Wings, when present, are attached

to the mesothorax and metathorax.

VI//ngs

These are mcmbranous extensions of the

body wall and consist of an upper and lower

layer. These layers are supported by reinforcing

structtlres, which appear as distinct lines called

veins.

Wing veins running from the base to the

apex of the wings are called longitudinal veins.

Cross veins connect the longitudinal veins. The

arrangement and number of these veins are

important in the classifiation of insects. Areas

in between veins are called cells. Some veins

may be closed. Each vein contains a nerve cord,

trachea, and hemolymph. The leading edge is

called the costa, and short subcostal veins are

numbered 1, 2. 3. and so on.

2, Leg

The leg is divided into the coxa, trochanter,

femur, tibia, tarsus, and pretarsus (Figure 6.7).

The femur and tibia correspond to the human

thigh and shin, and the tarsus has a function

simi[ar to that of the foot. The ]ast tarsa]

segment uually terminates into a pair ofclaws

or pulvilli, which help the insects in walking on

smooth surfaces.

C. Abdomen

The third body region, which bears the

spiracles and the external reproductive organs,

is made up of 1 1 segments. The spimcles (Figure

6.8) are the external openings ofthe respiratory

system, and some insects have a pair on each

abdominal segment. The 8th and 9th segments

bear the external sex organs used for copulation

in the male and serve as an egg-laying device or

ovipositor for the female. Some bear a pair of

finger-like processes called ccrci (Figure 6.9) on

the 1 1 th segment, which are more conspicuous

in females.