Lecture Entomology part 1

The study of insects and arachnids that either cause direct injury to humans or live stock or are vectors of diseases or pathogens that cause injury or death.

Principally on the biology, ecology, and systematics of the arthropods and not the diseases or parasites themselves.

Many different fields of biology (i.e., insect biology, insect ecology, insect population genetics, insect systematics,

Nuisances: (e.g., House Flies, Cockroaches, Bed bugs)

Toxins, Venoms: (Insects & Arachnids) & Allergens-(e.g., Bees, Wasps, Blister Beetles, Bombardier Beetles, Spiders, & Scorpions)

Insects that cause Myiasis –Development of the larval stage is in living flesh (e.g., Flesh flies Sarcophagidae) or Blow Flies (Calliphoridae)

Vectors – Insects and arachnids that either by simple physical contact or biological transfer during feeding transmit pathogens. There are many species of flies, some hemipterans, lice, and fleas.

They come in contact with disease causing bacteria that is incidentally left where humans can encounter it

transmit Typhoid Fever; Cholera; Amoebic Dysentry; Tuberculosis; Anthrax; and various parasitic nematodes.

toxic effects of a venom that is injected as part of a biting defensive response or stinging defensive response or simply a chemical release as a defensive response.

Produced by members of the beetle families Meloidae and Cantharidae