Morphology and Adaptation of Immature Stages of Hemipteran Insects
© 2019 JETIR January 2019, Volume 6, Issue 1 www.jetir.org (ISSN-2349-5162) Morphology and Adaptation of Immature Stages of Hemipteran Insects Devina Seram and Yendrembam K Devi Assistant Professor, School of Agriculture, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab Introduction Insect Adaptations An adaptation is an environmental change so an insect can better fit in and have a better chance of living. Insects are modified in many ways according to their environment. Insects can have adapted legs, mouthparts, body shapes, etc. which makes them easier to survive in the environment that they live in and these adaptations also help them get away from predators and other natural enemies. Here are some adaptations in the immature stages of important families of Hemiptera. Hemiptera are hemimetabolous exopterygotes with only egg and nymphal immature stages and are divided into two sub-orders, homoptera and heteroptera. The immature stages of homopteran families include Delphacidae, Fulgoridae, Cercopidae, Cicadidae, Membracidae, Cicadellidae, Psyllidae, Aleyrodidae, Aphididae, Phylloxeridae, Coccidae, Pseudococcidae, Diaspididae and heteropteran families Notonectidae, Corixidae, Belastomatidae, Nepidae, Hydrometridae, Gerridae, Veliidae, Cimicidae, Reduviidae, Pentatomidae, Lygaeidae, Coreidae, Tingitidae, Miridae will be discussed. Homopteran families 1. Delphacidae – Eg. plant hoppers They comprise the largest family of plant hoppers and are characterized by the presence of large, flattened spurs at the apex of their hind tibiae. Eggs are deposited inside plant tissues, elliptical in shape, colourless to whitish. Nymphs are similar in appearance to adults except for size, colour, under- developed wing pads and genitalia. 2. Fulgoridae – Eg. lantern bugs They can be recognized with their antennae inserted on the sides & beneath the eyes.
[Show full text]