Entomology Presentation Notes

Introduction

• Presenter: Dr. Rock Brito, Associate Professor in Community Medicine.
• Focus: Identification of entomology spotters.
• Previous topics covered: Practical spotters.
• Channel: Think Lateral (subscribe and click on the bell icon for notifications).

Classification of Living Organisms

• Two Kingdoms: Animal and Plant.
• Vertebrates belong to the sub-group: Mammals.
• Phylum Classification: Arthropods are crucial in entomology (study of insects).

Types of Arthropods in Entomology

1. Insecta
   • Body Structure: Head, Thorax, Abdomen.
2. Arachnida
   • Body Structure: Cephalothorax (combined head and thorax).
3. Crustacea
   • Body Structure: Cephalothorax.

Medical Entomology

• Definition: Study of arthropods of medical importance (vectors of disease).
• Vectors: Organisms that transmit diseases (not causative agents).
  • Example: Housefly transmits diseases mechanically.
  • Other vectors transmit biologically (agents undergo multiplication/change within the vector).

Important Arthropods and Disease Transmission

1. Mosquitoes

   • Types: Anopheles, Culex, Aedes.
   • Diseases: Malaria, Dengue, Chikungunya, Yellow Fever, etc.

2. Flies

   • Notable Types: Housefly, Black Fly, Sand Fly.
   • Diseases: Gastroenteritis, Sleeping Sickness, etc.

3. Lice and Fleas

   • Diseases: Epidemic Typhus, Plague.

4. Ticks and Mites

   • Diseases: Scrub Typhus, Rickettsial Pox.

Identification of Entomology Spotters

• Methodology:
  1. Basic Morphology
  2. Diseases transmitted
  3. Control measures

Mosquito Eggs Identification

• Culex: Clusters of cigar-shaped eggs.
• Anopheles: Singly, spindle-shaped eggs.
• Aedes: Singly, oval-shaped eggs with lateral floats.

Larvae Identification

• Culex: Long siphon tubes (respiratory trumpets).
• Aedes: Shorter siphon tubes.
• Anopheles: No siphon tube, presence of palmit hairs.

Pupa Stage Identification

• Culex: Long and slender siphon tubes.
• Aedes: Ill-developed siphon tubes.
• Anopheles: No siphon tube.

Adult Mosquito Identification

• Anopheles: Spotted wings.
• Aedes: Alternate black and yellow bands on the body.
• Culex: No spotted wings and absent black/yellow bands.
• Male Antenna: Bushy antennae present in males, less bushy in females.

Mouth Parts Identification

• Anopheles (Female): Short palpi, long palpi in males.
  • Club-shaped palpi in males.
• Culex (Female): Bushy antenna with short palpi.

Other Insects

• Cyclops: Class Insectae.
• Sandfly: Smaller than mosquitoes, hairy with longer legs.
• Ticks: Soft vs. Hard ticks based on head shape and position post-blood meal.
• Rat Flea: Common identification features.

Conclusion

• Encouragement to subscribe to the channel for updates.
• Invitation for suggestions and questions in the comment section.