Insects head

• The insect's head is sometimes referred to as the head-capsule, and is the

insect's feeding and sensory centre. It supports the eyes, antennae and
and jaws of the insect. (Note -: insects do not breath through their mouths
but through their thoracic and abdominal spiracles).
• In most insects, the head capsule is a sturdy compartment that houses the
brain, a mouth opening, mouthparts used for ingestion of food, and major
sense organs (including antennae, compound eyes, and ocelli).
• Embryological evidence suggests that the first six body segments (three
pre-oral and three post-oral) of a primitive worm-like ancestor may have
fused to form the head capsule of most present-day insects.
• The surface of the head is divided into regions (sclerites) by a pattern of
shallow grooves (sutures).
• 1. Vertex or Epicranium- The uppermost sclerite (dorsal surface) of the
head capsule is known as the Vertex or Epicranium. It extends from the
anterior frontal to the posterior occipital suture.
• It is divided by the coronal suture into two identical lateral plates known
as the parietals. The parietals are characterised by bearing the antennae,
lateral ocelli and the compound eyes.
• A coronal suture usually runs along the midline of the vertex and splits
into two frontal sutures as it extends downward across the front of the
head capsule.
• 2. Frons-The triangular sclerite that lies between these frontal sutures is
called the frons. The epistomal or Clypeo-frontal suture is a deep
groove that separates the base of the frons from the clypeus.
• In orthopetroid insects, Frons possesses the median ocellus.
• Frons represents typically an upper facial region of the head.
• The pharyngeal dilators, labral, hypopharyngeal muscles and the
adductor muscles of the mandibles are usually inserted on the middle
of the frons.
• 3. The Clypeus sclerite is demarcated by the clypeo-labral and clypeo-
frontal sutures from the anterior and posterior sides. It is thus
rectangular body between the anterior labral and posterior frontal
sclerites.
• In some insects it is partially or completely divided in to two parts by a
transverse suture. The posterior part is termed as post clypeus and the
anterior part is antclypeus.
• The clypeus is the sclerite of the head on which arise the cibarial dilator
muscles.
• 4. The labrum is freely attached to lower margin of the clypeus by
the clypeolabral suture, generally hanged over the mouth also
known as the upper lip particularly in the mandibulate insects.
• It is internally lined with the gustatory receptors and can be moved
upwards, downwards and can be pulled and pushed due to the
elastic nature of the suture and muscle innervation. It is innervated
by following three types of muscles-
• The compressor muscles – bring the retraction, prolongation and
contraction of the labrum.
• The anterior labral muscles- they move the labrum in forward
direction.
• The posterior labral muscles- these pull the labrum in backward
direction.
• 5. The occiput, the U shaped posterior or hinder cuticular band. It
represents the area from occipital to the post occipital suture.
• 6. The post-occiput- the occipital foramen is encircled from the
dorsal and lateral regions by a narrow sclerite, the post-occiput.
This post occiput lies between the occiput and the neck.
• The post occiput is marked off from the occiput by a transverse post
occipital suture. When the post occipital suture remains absent, the
posteripr tentorial pits separate the post occiput from the occiput..
• The dorsal thoracic muscles are attached to the endoskeleton ridge of
the post occiput suture. These muscles articulate the head freely.
• 7. The Gena and Subgena areas represent the lateral areas of the
head. The hinder part develops into the socket to accommodate the
mandibular condyle.
• Posterior to the occipital suture, each lateral gena is commonly called
as post gena. Each postgena provides the condyle articulation for the
maxillae
• 8. The Ocular Sclerite form a cuticular ring around each compound
eye.
• 9. The Antennal Sclerite form an annulus at the base of the antenna.
 Mouth Parts in Insects
• 1. Biting and Chewing:
• This type of mouth parts are supposed to be the most primitive type as the
other types are believed to be evolved from biting and chewing type of
mouth parts.
• These consist of the labrum forming upper lip, mandibles, first maxillae,
second maxillae forming lower lip, hypo pharynx and the epipharynx.

• The labrum is median, somewhat rectangular flap-like. The mandibles are

paired and bear toothed edges at their inner surfaces; they work
transversely by two sets of muscles to masticate the food. The first maxillae
are paired and lie one on either side of the head capsule behind the
mandibles. Each possesses a five-jointed maxillary palp which is a tactile
organ.
• The first maxillae help in holding the food. The second maxillae are paired
but fused to form the lower lip. Its function is to push the masticated food
into the mouth. The hypo pharynx is single median tongue-like process at
whose base the common salivary duct opens. The epipharynx is a single
small membranous piece lying under the labrum and bears taste buds.
Biting and Chewing
• This type of mouth parts are found in orthopteran insects like cockroaches,
grasshoppers, crickets, etc. These are also found in silver fish, termites,
earwigs, beetles, some hymenopterans and in caterpillars of Lepidoptera.
• 2. Chewing and Lapping:
• This type of mouth parts are modified for collecting the nectar and pollen
from flowers and also for moulding the wax, as is found in honeybees, wasps,
etc. They consist of the labrum, epipharynx, mandibles, first pair of maxillae
and second pair of maxillae.
• The labrum lies below the clypeus, below the labrum is a fleshy epipharynx
which is an organ of taste.
• Mandibles are short, smooth and spatulated, situated one on either side of
the labrum; used in moulding wax and making the honeycomb. The labium
(second pair of maxillae) has reduced paraglossae, the glossae are united and
elongated to form the so called retractile tongue, at its tip is a small labellum
or honey spoon. The labial palps are elongated.
• The glossa is used for gathering honey and it is an organ of touch and taste.
The first pair of maxillae are placed at the sides of labium, they bear small
maxillary palps, lacinia is very much reduced but galea are elongated and
blade-like.
• The galea and labial palps form a tube enclosing the glossae which
moves up and down to collect nectar from flower nectaries. The nectar
is sucked up through the tube, so formed, by the pumping action of the
pharynx. The labrum and mandibles help in chewing the food.
• 3. Piercing and Sucking:
• This type of mouth parts are adapted for piercing the tissues of animals
and plants to suck blood and plant juice, and found in dipteran insects
like mosquitoes and hemipteran insects like bugs, aphids, etc.
• They usually consist of labium, labrum and epipharynx, mandibles,
maxillae and hypo pharynx.
• However, for the sake of easy description, this type of mouth parts
can be discussed in the following two headings:
• (i) Piercing and sucking mouth parts of mosquitoes:
• The labium is modified to form a long, straight, fleshy tube, called
proboscis. It has a deep labial groove on its upper side.
• The labial palps are modified to form two conical lobes at the tip of the
proboscis, called labella which bear tactile bristles.
• The labrum is long needle-like. The epipharynx is fused with the
labrum. The labrum-epipharynx, thus, covers the labial groove dorsally
from inside.
• Mandibles, maxillae and hypo pharynx are modified to form needle-
like stylets which are placed in the labial groove.
• In male mosquitoes, the mandibles are absent.
• In females, the mandibles are finer than the maxillae, but both have
saw-like edges on their tips.
• The hypo pharynx possesses salivary duct which opens at its tip.
Through this duck, saliva is poured to prevent coagulation of blood of
the victim.
• (ii) Piercing and sucking mouth parts of bugs:
• These types of mouth parts are suitable for piercing the skin of animal
or plant and suck blood or fluid. They are found in mosquitoes, sand
flies, biting midges, bugs and lice.
• Piercing and sucking mouth parts of bugs form a three-
segmented proboscis formed by labium which is the main sucking
tube.
• Maxillae and mandibles are sharp needle like and are called stylets.
• Labrum is reduced and forms the basal part of proboscis.
• Piercing and sucking mouth parts of lice are entirely different. None
of the conventional mouth part pieces are seen in lice. Instead, there
is a sharp spine-like stabber that rests in a trophic sac. It is used to
pierce the skin and draw blood which is then sucked by suctorial
pharynx through the mouth.
4. Sponging:
• This type of mouth parts are adapted for sucking up liquid or
semiliquid food and found in houseflies and some other flies. They
consist of labrum- epipharynx, maxillae, labium and hypo pharynx;
mandibles are entirely absent.
• In fact, in this type of mouth parts, the labium, i.e. lower lip is well
developed and modified to form a long, fleshy and retractile
proboscis.
• The proboscis is divisible into three distinct parts:
• (i) Rostrum or basiproboscis; it is broad, elongated and cone-shaped
basal part of proboscis articulated proximally with the head and
bears a pair of un-jointed maxillary palps representing the maxillae,
• (ii) Haustellum or mediproboscis; it is the middle part of proboscis
bearing a mid-dorsal oral groove and a ventral weakly chitinised
plate-like theca or mentum.
• A double- edged blade-like hypo pharynx is located deep inside the oral
groove; it bears salivary duct and closes the groove of labrum-
epipharynx from below. The labrum-epipharynx is a long, somewhat
flattened and grooved structure covering the oral groove. The food
canal or channel is, thus, formed by labium-epipharynx and the hypo
pharynx.
• (iii) Labella or distiproboscis; it is the distal part of proboscis and
consists of two broad, flattened and oval spongy pads having a series of
channels called pseudo tracheae. These open externally by a double
row of tiny holes through which liquid food is taken in. The pseudo
tracheae converge into the mouth lying between the two lobes of
labella which lead into the food canal.
Sponging type of mouth parts
• 5. Siphoning:
• This type of mouth parts are adapted wonderfully for sucking flower
nectar and fruit juice, found in butterflies and moths belonging to the
order Lepidoptera of class Insecta. They consist of small labrum,
coiled proboscis, reduced mandibles and labium. The hypo pharynx
and epipharynx are not found.
• The labrum is a triangular sclerite attached with the front clypeus of
the head. The proboscis is formed by well-developed, greatly
elongated and modified galeae of maxillae. It is grooved internally to
form the food channel or canal through which food is drawn up to
mouth. At rest, when proboscis is not in use, it is tightly coiled
beneath the head but it becomes extended in response to food
stimulus.
• The extension of proboscis is achieved by exerting a fluid pressure by
the blood. Mandibles are either absent or greatly reduced, situated
on the lateral sides of the labrum. The labium is triangular plate-like
bearing labial palps.
• Antenna
• The antennae are a pair of sense organs located near the front of an
insect’s head capsule.
• Although commonly called “feelers”, the antennae are much more than
just tactile receptors.
• They are usually covered with olfactory receptors that can detect odour
molecules in the air (the sense of smell).
• Many insects also use their antennae as humidity sensors, to detect
changes in the concentration of water vapour.
• Mosquitoes detect sounds with their antennae, and many flies use
them to gauge air speed while they are in flight.
• Although antennae vary widely in shape and function, all of them can
be divided into three basic parts:
• Scape — the basal segment that articulates with the head capsule
• Pedicel — the second antennal segment
• Flagellum — all the remaining “segments” (individually
called flagellomeres).
• Types of Antennae
• The antennae of insects are modified in many ways. Some of these
modifications just provide greater surface area for sensory receptors,
while others are unique adaptations that bestow special sensory
capabilities, such as detecting sound vibrations, wind speed, or humidity.
• 1. The setaceous Antenna- the flagellum look like a bristle due to the
gradual reduction in the size of the segments e.g. Odonata (Dragonfly)
• 2. The filiform Antenna- the flagellum appears as a thread like structure
made up of uniformly thin segments. E.g. Blattidae (Cockroach)

• 3. The Moniliform Antenna- the flagellum is composed of the

globose shaped segments, providing a beaded or necklace like
appearance to the entire antenna. E.g. Termites, Caloterms.
• 4. The Serrate antenna- the flagellum consists of triangular segments
with eccentric arrangement leaving the free ends of the segments freely
on one side which appears as the teeth of the saw, e.g. Burestidae
(beetles), Elateridae (Coleoptera).

• 5. The pectinate or Flabellate- the individual segments of the flagellum

are extending on only one side of the long processes and thus antenna
become comb like . E.g. Rhipiphoridae (Coleoptera), Tenthredinidae
(Hymenoptera), Bombycoidea (Lepidoptera).
• 6. The Clavate Antenna- The successive segments of the flagellum
become gradually broader giving an appearance of the club shaped
form to the antenna, e.g. Coleoptera, Lepidoptera.

• 7. The Capitate Antenna- The proximal segments of the flagellum

are of uniform size while the distal segments modify in to a large
knob of capitulum. E.g. Nitidulidae (Coleoptera).
• 8. The Lamellate Antennae- The terminal segments of the flagellum
modify into the leaf like broad plates forming a foliate capitulum, e.g.
Melolontha, Scarabaeidae (coleoptera).

• 9. The Plumose Antennae- the flagellum is composed of large

number of cylindrical segments and the segments are provided with
long hairs on either side, e.g. male mosquito, midges.
10. Aristate Antennae- Aristate antennae are pouch-like, with a lateral
bristle. Aristate antennae are most notably found in the Diptera (true
flies).

• 11. Geniculate Are Bent or Hinged Sharply

• Geniculate antennae are bent or hinged sharply, almost like a knee
or elbow joint. The term geniculate derives from the Latin genu,
meaning knee. Geniculate antennae are found mainly in ants or
bees.
• 12. Stylate- Terminate in a Long, Slender Point
• Stylate comes from the Latin stylus, meaning pointed instrument.
• In stylate antennae, the final segment terminates in a long, slender
point, called a style. The style may be hair like but will extend from the
end and never from the side.
• Stylate antennae are found most notably in certain true flies of the
suborder Brachycera (such as robber flies, snipe flies, and bee flies).
• The Pilose Antennae- The flagellum looks like a shaft, flexible hair. All
segments are a like, fine and tubular but without processes e.g. female
anopheles.