How many arthropod species are blood-feeders?

Over 15,000 species across 400 genera are hematophagous.

How did vertebrate parasitism evolve in arthropods?

It evolved independently across several distinct arthropod lineages

What is an obligatory parasite? Give an example.

An organism completely dependent on a host to survive or complete a life stage (e.g., Lucilia cuprina causing obligate fly strike)

What is a facultative parasite? Give an example.

An organism that feeds/lives on a host occasionally but can survive without it (e.g., facultative fly strike)

How do internal and external parasites differ?

Internal parasites spend part of their life cycle inside host tissues (e.g., myiasis flies like bot flies and screwworms). Ectoparasites feed on the skin surface or burrow beneath it (e.g., sarcoptic mange).

How does host contact duration vary among arthropod parasites?

It ranges from continuous life-long contact (lice, sheep keds) to brief or intermittent feeding sessions (mosquitoes, ticks).

Do arthropods always remain parasitic across all life stages?

No. Some are parasitic only as larvae (chiggers), some only as adults (mosquitoes), and others during all life stages (ticks)

Do arthropods always remain parasitic across all life stages?

No. Some are parasitic only as larvae (chiggers), some only as adults (mosquitoes), and others during all life stages (ticks).

Flattened to move easily on the host or hide in crevices. Dorsoventrally flattened: Lice, louse flies, keds, and ticks Bilaterally flattened: Fleas. Non-flattened: Brief-contact blood-feeders like mosquitoes and biting flies.

Essential for flying to hosts (mosquitos, tabanids), secondarily lost/reduced in permanent parasites (fleas, lice, sheep ked), or shed after finding a host (deer ked).

Modified with claws for grasping host hair/feathers. Flea hind legs feature enlarged femurs and the elastic protein resilin to facilitate jumping.

Specialized to detect motion, vibrations, CO₂, temperature gradients, and odors

Detects vibrations and temperature gradients.

Located on the first pair of tick legs; senses host odors, temperature, and air movement.

Used primarily for olfaction and detecting airborne vibrations

Telmophagy (Pool Feeding)

Organisms cut tissue to feed on blood pools (e.g., ticks, black flies, horse flies). Punctures cause immediate pain and pose a higher risk for secondary infections.

Solenophagy (Vessel Feeding)

Specialized piercing-sucking stylets penetrate individual capillaries directly (e.g., mosquitoes, bed bugs, sucking lice), leaving minimal physical trace at the site.

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Entom 305 pt 2

Question	Answer
How many arthropod species are blood-feeders?	Over 15,000 species across 400 genera are hematophagous.
How did vertebrate parasitism evolve in arthropods?	It evolved independently across several distinct arthropod lineages
What is an obligatory parasite? Give an example.	An organism completely dependent on a host to survive or complete a life stage (e.g., Lucilia cuprina causing obligate fly strike)
What is a facultative parasite? Give an example.	An organism that feeds/lives on a host occasionally but can survive without it (e.g., facultative fly strike)
How do internal and external parasites differ?	Internal parasites spend part of their life cycle inside host tissues (e.g., myiasis flies like bot flies and screwworms). Ectoparasites feed on the skin surface or burrow beneath it (e.g., sarcoptic mange).
How does host contact duration vary among arthropod parasites?	It ranges from continuous life-long contact (lice, sheep keds) to brief or intermittent feeding sessions (mosquitoes, ticks).
Do arthropods always remain parasitic across all life stages?	No. Some are parasitic only as larvae (chiggers), some only as adults (mosquitoes), and others during all life stages (ticks)
Do arthropods always remain parasitic across all life stages?	No. Some are parasitic only as larvae (chiggers), some only as adults (mosquitoes), and others during all life stages (ticks).
Body Shape:	Flattened to move easily on the host or hide in crevices. Dorsoventrally flattened: Lice, louse flies, keds, and ticks Bilaterally flattened: Fleas. Non-flattened: Brief-contact blood-feeders like mosquitoes and biting flies.
Wings	Essential for flying to hosts (mosquitos, tabanids), secondarily lost/reduced in permanent parasites (fleas, lice, sheep ked), or shed after finding a host (deer ked).
Legs	Modified with claws for grasping host hair/feathers. Flea hind legs feature enlarged femurs and the elastic protein resilin to facilitate jumping.
Sensory Structures	Specialized to detect motion, vibrations, CO₂, temperature gradients, and odors
Flea Sensilium	Detects vibrations and temperature gradients.
Haller's Organ	Located on the first pair of tick legs; senses host odors, temperature, and air movement.
Antennae	Used primarily for olfaction and detecting airborne vibrations
Telmophagy (Pool Feeding)	Organisms cut tissue to feed on blood pools (e.g., ticks, black flies, horse flies). Punctures cause immediate pain and pose a higher risk for secondary infections.
Solenophagy (Vessel Feeding)	Specialized piercing-sucking stylets penetrate individual capillaries directly (e.g., mosquitoes, bed bugs, sucking lice), leaving minimal physical trace at the site.

Created by: agk236

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