Synopsis of Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Identifying Characteristics of Phylum:

-includes: crabs, crawfish, shrimp, spiders, scorpions, mites, ticks, millipedes, centipedes,
insects (dragonflies, butterflies, ants, wasps, beetles, etc)
-more species in this phylum than in ANY phylum of ANY kingdom of life
-more widely distributed over the earth than any other animal phylum
-paired jointed appendages  the only invertebrate with this trait
-hard (sclerotized) exoskeleton of chitin completely covers body; must molt to grow
-segmented body; allows infinite possibilities for adaptive modifications
-well developed head (cephalization)
-numerous sense organs; antennae & compound eyes are characteristic sense organs of arthropods
-several pairs of jointed feeding appendages
-very active and energetic animals  most active invertebrate group; virtually every form of animal
movement is found in arthropods: walking, running, crawling, burrowing, swimming, flying,
-were the first animals to move onto land; allowed wide and rapid distribution and dissemination
-arthropods have a very complex muscular system; some with 1000’s of muscles
-virtually every mode of feeding: carnivores, herbivores, omnivores, parasites
-well developed complete digestive tract: mouth - esophagus - stomach - intestine – anus
-variety of respiratory systems; gills, book gills, lungs book lungs, trachea
-arthropods have a simple open circulatory system  coelom a haemocoel filled with blood;
has dorsal heart and blood vessels; blood with pigments to carry oxygen:
-ladderlike nervous system similar to annelids
-well developed sense organssimple eyes = ocelli, compound eyes , antennae, chemoreceptors, tactile
hairs & spines, statocysts
-arthropods have a variety of efficient excretory systems; antennal glands, malpighian tubules, coxal
glands, some aquatic forms excrete through skin or gills
-mostly dioecious with lots of variation in developmental stages, a few reproduce parthenogenetically

Subphylum: Trilobita
-completely extinct subphylum; 4,000 fossil species; earliest arthropod group
-named for the division of the body into 3 longitudinal lobes
-highly specialized marine bottom dwellers (benthos) from shallow flats and reefs to deeper waters
-dominated marine benthos for 300 Million years

Subphylum: Myriopoda (centipedes and millipedes)

-long worm-like segmented body divided into a head and trunk
-head with 1 pair of antennae and poorly developed clusters of ocelli
-with paired appendages on almost all segments
-mostly terrestrial; generally found in moist humus or in damp areas under rocks and logs
-mandibles for feeding
-insect-like tracheae for respiration
-insect-like malpighian tubules for excretion
centipedes: means “100 feet”; body usually flat in cross-section; one pair of walking legs on most
segments; predators with pair of poison fangs
-millipedes: means “1000 feet”; body usually round in cross section; 2 pairs of legs on most “segments”;
most are scavengers

Subphylum: Chelicerata
-include horse shoe crabs, sea spiders, scorpions, spiders, ticks, mites, sea scorpions
This is NOT “what’s on the test”; this is a summary of the major points from lab and lectures; the lecture & lab notes are the sources of exam questions
 -most members of the group are terrestrial1st group of animals to successfully make transition to land
-head is fused to thorax = cephalothorax, abdomen behind this
-main feeding appendages are chelicerae (pincer-like or fang like) used to grab or pierce or tear prey
-most also have second feeding appendage = pedipalp
-only arthropod group without antennae
-most have 4 pairs of walking legs
-aquatic species have book gills; terrestrial species use book lungs or tracheae
-aquatic species have simple and compound eyes; terrestrial species have several pairs of simple eyes
-excretory organ of most Chelicerates are malpighian tubules and coxal glands at base of some legs
-dioecious; some with elaborate mating rituals; some with considerable parental care

Human Impacts of Chelicerates:

-spiders are directly beneficial as predators each kill 1000’s of insect crop pests
-large infestations of some mites can damage food and ornamental plants by sucking their juices
-venomous species  a few are deadly; eg. black widow, eg. brown recluse, eg. scorpions
-arachnid Diseases and Parasites: ticks, mites, chiggers, etc.
-more serious impact on humans is as disease vectors: eg mites and ticks
-scientists are experimenting with venom genes to use as biological control against insect pests
-spider silk is being investigated for a variety of possible uses.

Subphyulum Crustacea
shelled creatures; “the insects of the sea” eg: lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, crabs, water fleas,
copepods, barnacles, pill bugs, etc
-crustaceans are mostly aquatic, the great majority are marine
-in most crustaceans today, the body is usually divided into a cephalothorax, abdomen and tail
-cephalothorax usually with 2 pairs of antennae & compound eyes; often has carapace extending over
the sides of the animal
-abdomen usually with pairs of jointed appendages on most segments
-generally have many pairs of appendages; most appendages are biramous
-use jaw-like mandibles as main feeding structures; also maxillae and maxillipeds
-great variation in feeding types: predators, suspension feeders, scavengers, etc
-respiration in small crustacea: no special organs ; in larger crustacea usually with feathery gills
-in some crustacea development is direct but most crustaceans produce a variety of distinctive larval forms
as the animal develops eg. nauplius

Ecological & Economic Impacts of Crustaceans

-crustaceans feed a vast number of other animals in the oceans and in freshwaters
-many symbiioses; mutualistic, commensal and parasitic forms
-more than 10 million tons of crustaceans are harvested for food each year (2007)
-crayfish are commonly sold and used as bait either live or only the tail meat
-crayfish & land crabs are kept as pets
-many crustaceans are serious pests; eg rice crabs, crayfish, barnacles, etc
-many Crustaceans are endo- and ectoparasites on other organisms
-some act as intermediate hosts for human parasites; eg Guinea worm, tapeworms

Subphylum: Hexapoda (insects)

-most successful & widespread group of all life; today insects have spread into all major habitats
-were the first animals to fly
-body in three parts: head, thorax and abdomen

Animals: Arthropods-General Ziser Lecture Notes, 2012.10 2

 -head with large compound eyes, several (usually 3) simple eyes (=ocelli), 1 pair of antennae,
mandibles and other mouthparts for feeding
-thorax divided into three segments 6 legs; most also have 2 pairs of wings
-abdomen contains reproductive organs; females have ovipositor to lay eggs
-great diversity of leg types; walking, running, jumping, swimming, digging, climbing, grasping
-insects feed upon almost every kind of organic substance; the same basic mouthparts are modified in
many ways to facilitate different methods of feeding:
-respiraton by tracheal system with spiracles  adaptation to air
-they have a rich supply of sense organs located all over the body; these contribute to a rich diversity of
insect behaviors
-many insect species exist as colonies eg. ants, bees, wasps, termintes, some beetles
-insects defend themselves in a variety of ways; hard exoskeleton, quick reflexes, defensive postures,
spines & bristles, use of sound, warning and camoflage colors, chemical defenses, stings
-excretions using malpighian tubules to absorb metabolic wastes from blood and drain into intestine
-wide range in life spans for adult insects: hours to years
-insects are dioecious; most have internal fertilization; mating is an important part of an insects behavior
set; insects usually lay many eggs; some lay eggs on specific plant or animal
-most insects also go through several distinct developmental stages as they grow from egg to adult
-insects often have complex development including metamorphosis; most of the rest have incomplete
metamorphosis
-some insects go dormant in adverse conditions; or diapause for extended dormancy

Ecological & Economic Impacts of Insects

-insects are the most important organisms in most terrestrial ecosystems; without insects, most of the
terrstrial life on earth would disappear
-Important in Recycling of nutrients eg. 90% of all dead animals are eaten by ants
-insect pollinators are keystone species in some terrestrial ecosystems
-insects have formed a wide variety of symbioses with virtually every major kind of living organisms
-in the US a 2006 study estimates that insects directly or indirectly contribute more than $57 Billion to
our economy
-some insects have been semi-domesticated: eg honeybees, silkworms, mealworms, crickets
-commercial products; eg. chitin, shellac, dyes
-venomous Insects: ants, bees, wasps, hornets, blister beetles, etc
- parasites & Diseases & Vectors; mosquitoes, bed bugs, lice, fleas, flies
-insect and spider silk is being investigated for a variety of purposes
-insects as food; in many parts of the world, insects are considered delicacies
-blood sucking insect, Dipetalogaster maximus, is used as a high tech syringe
-insects as chemical detection devices; “wasp hound” = a portable hand held odor detector
-scientists hope to harness the activities of termite bacteria to break down cellulose to produce ethanol and
biofuels

Animals: Arthropods-General Ziser Lecture Notes, 2012.10 3