INSECTS
There are approximately 1 million different species of insects. They have a
body divided into head, thorax and abdomen, and typically have 6 legs and one or
two pairs of wings.
A) Web site name: University of Florida: Singing insects of North America
Web site URL: http://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/walker/buzz/i00dis.htm
Read “How to recognize crickets, katydids and cicadas”
1). How do Ensiferans produce calling songs? __________________________
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Click on “Crickets” then “List of Species”, click on several different species and
then and fill out the information below:
2). Name of species #1: ________________________________
Where is it found? _____________________________________________
Describe its song: ____________________________________________
3). Name of species #2: ________________________________
Where is it found? _____________________________________________
Describe its song: ____________________________________________
Click on “Katydids” at the top of the screen, then “List of Species”. Click on some
species then fill out the information below:
4). Name of species #3: ________________________________
Where is it found? _____________________________________________
Describe its song: ____________________________________________
5). Name of species #4: ________________________________
Where is it found? _____________________________________________
Describe its song: ____________________________________________
One group of insects that has had a big impact on human disease is
mosquitoes, which transmit several fatal diseases including malaria.
B) Web site name: BBC News
Web site URL: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4470501.stm
Read “Little progress in Malaria war”.
6). How many cases of malaria are there every year? _____________________
7). How long will it be before a vaccine is available? _____________________
8). What is one reason that the “RBM” has failed?
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9). Which two drugs are the most effective treatment for malaria?
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10). Why is this likely to reach only a fraction of patients who need it?
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C) Web site name: NYU School of Medicine
Web URL: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2004-01/nyum-r013004.php
11). In general, how long does it take for tumors to disappear completely in mice
infected with Sindbis virus? ______________________________________
12). In which parts of the world is Sindbis virus found? ___________________
13). What symptoms does the virus cause in humans?
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14). How many different cancer-killing viruses are in clinical trials? __________
15). Why did adding the IL-12 gene help? _______________________________
D) Web site name: University of Florida Book of Insect Records
Web URL: http://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/walker/ufbir/chapters/index_subject.shtml
Click on “Chapter 10: Least Specific Sucker of Vertebrate Blood”
16). What insect can feed on any vertebrate? _______________________
17). What animals does G. palpalis fuscipes feed on?
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18). Why does this species not rely on scent (olfaction) to find its host?
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Click on the “Back” button, read a few of the other chapters and select two more
chapters on insects that interest you.
19). Which two chapters did you pick?
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20). Why did you find these interesting?
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E) Web site name: Forensic Entomology: University of Florida
Web site URL: http://www.forensicentomology.com/definition.htm
Read “What is Forensic Entomology”
21). What is “forensic entomology”? __________________________________
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22). What may be responsible for car accidents that lack a definitive cause?
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23). What are “flyspecks”? _______________________________________
Click on “Life cycles”
24). Which insect has a gradual or "paurometabolous" development?
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25). What color are adult blowflies? _______________________________
Click on one other button on the left of the screen.
26). Summarize the information in this section: ___________________________
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F) Web site name: BBC News
Web site address: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/1119359.stm
27). Which human-like species is this article talking about?
__________________ ______________________
28). Why was it previously a “puzzle” that this species had significant amounts
of a type of carbon associated with eating protein?
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29). What were these bone tools used for? _______________________________
30). What type of carbon is laid down in the bones of meat eaters? ___________
31). What two nutrients are termites rich in? _____________________________
32). What modern primate “fishes” for termites? __________________________