DEPARTMENT OF ENTOMOLOGY
College of Agriculture, Bikaner
Fundamentals of Entomology
Course No. Ento.121 3(2+1)
Insect dominance
Measures of dominance:
1. More number of species
2. Large number of individuals in a single species: e.g. Locust
swarm comprising of 109 number of individuals, occupying
large area.
3. Great variety of habitats
4. Long geological history
Reasons for dominance:
There are several structural, morphological and physiological
factors responsible for insect dominance. They are:
1. Capacity for flight : Insects posess wings, which is the lateral
extension of exoskeleton. Insects are the earliest animals
and the only flying invertebrates. Flight is used for the
following purpose.
i. To seek food, mate, shelter and oviposition sites
ii. To colonize in a new habitat and also to exchange habitat.
iii. To escape from enemies and unfavourable conditions.
iv. To migrate (i.e. for long distance travel e.g. Locusts)
2. More adaptability or universality : Insects are the earliest groups to make
their life on the earth and to occupy vast habitats of soil and water.
i. Found in wide range of climatic conditions, from -50 C to 40 C.
ii. Psilopa petroli found in crude petroleum well.
iii. Ephydra fly living in great salt lake.
iv. Every flowering plant providing food for one or many Phytophagous
insects.
v. Even the decomposing materials serving as food for many Saprophagous
insects.
vi. Many Carnivorous insects are parasitic on other animals and insects.
3. Smaller size: Majority of insects are small in their size
conferring the following physiological and ecological
advantages.
i. Exploitation of numerous ecological niches inaccessible
for other animals.
ii. Less space, food, time and energy requirements for
development and sustaining life.
iii. Energy Utilization maximum.
iv. Less gravitational effect.
v. Muscular action and tracheal respiration more effective.
vi. Easy escape from enemies.
4. Presence of exoskeleton:
Insect body is covered with an outer cuticle called exoskeleton
which is made up of a cuticular protein called Chitin.
This is light in weight and gives strength, rigidity and flexibility
to the insect body.
Uses: i. Act as external armour
Ii. Provides space for muscle attachment
Iii. Prevents water loss
5. Resistance to desiccation:
Insects minimise the water loss from their body surface through
Prevention of water loss
Wax layer of epicuticle,
Closable spiracles,
Egg shell
Conservation of water
Capable of utilizing metabolic water,
Reasorption of water from fecal matter,
Use less quantity of water to remove the nitrogenous
waste
6. Tracheal system of respiration:
• This ensures direct transfer of adequate oxygen to actively
breathing tissues.
• Spiracles through their closing mechanism admit air and
restrict water loss.
7. Higher reproductive potential:
• Reproductive potential of insect is high eg. Egg laying
capacity (fecundity) of queen termite is 6000 - 7000 eggs per
day for 15 long years.
• Short development period. e.g., Corn aphid produces 16
nymphs per female which reaches the adulthood within 16
days.
• Presence of special types of reproduction other than
oviparity and viviparity like Polyembryony, Parthenogenesis
and Paedogenesis
8. Presence of complete metamorphosis: More than 82 per cent
of insects undergo complete metamorphosis (holometabolous
insects) with four stages. As the larval and adult food sources
are different, competition for food is less.
9. Presence of defense mechanisms: By different defense
mechanisms, insects escape from the enemies to increase
their survival rate.
10. Hexapod locomotion: Insects uses 3 legs at a time during
locomotion, while the remaining 3 legs are static, which gives
greater stability.
