Ametabolous Insects

1.   "Primitive" insects exhibit the following characteristics:

Ametabolous   (no metamorphosis)

Apterous = apterygote   (wingless)

External fertilization

Soil-dwelling scavengers and decomposers

What are the correct names for the three life stages of ametabolous insects?

Young > Larva > Adult

Egg > Larva > Adult

Larva > Pupa > Adult

Egg > Young > Adult

Young > Pupa > Adult

2.   The following groups are ametabolous.   Match each taxon with its common name, where applicable.

Protura	Select           Silverfish Springtails Bristletails Coneheads None of these
Diplura	Select           Silverfish Springtails Bristletails Coneheads None of these
Collembola	Select           Silverfish Springtails Bristletails Coneheads None of these
Zygentoma	Select           Silverfish Springtails Bristletails Coneheads None of these
Archeognatha	Select           Silverfish Springtails Bristletails Coneheads None of these

3.   Complete the following table:

	Mouthparts	Compound Eyes	Antennae	Abdominal Appendages
Protura	Select Endognathous Ectognathous	Select Present Absent	Select Present Absent	Select Present Absent
Diplura	Select Endognathous Ectognathous	Select Present Absent	Select Present Absent	Select Present Absent
Collembola	Select Endognathous Ectognathous	Select Present Absent	Select Present Absent	Select Present Absent
Zygentoma	Select Endognathous Ectognathous	Select Present Absent	Select Present Absent	Select Present Absent
Archeognatha	Select Endognathous Ectognathous	Select Present Absent	Select Present Absent	Select Present Absent

4.   Think!   All ametabolous insects are wingless, but not all wingless insects are ametabolous.
    In the list below, click on ten insects that are regarded as "secondarily wingless" (i.e. phylogenetic descendants of winged taxa who later reverted to a wingless condition.)

Earwigs

Bed bugs

Roaches

Velvet ants

Fleas

Worker termites

Weevils

Sucking lice

Aphids

Sheep keds

Chewing lice

Scale insects

Worker ants

Crickets

Worker bees