Insect Mouthparts - Form Follows Function: Chew, Slurp, Pierce, Suck

摘要

One reason that insects are so successful is that they're specialized. Insects have mouths customized for the type of food they eat. Some chew, some slurp, some pierce and suck. These are the main types of insect mouthparts: Chewing Mouthparts - Cockroaches, crickets, grasshoppers, ants, praying mantids, and beetles have chewing mouthparts similar to our teeth, except they're called mandibles and they move sideways. Insects with these mouthparts bite off and grind solid food, much like we do. Besides the large pair of mandibles, small "feelers" help to manipulate, taste, and smell the food before it is swallowed. A few of these insects have powerful mandibles and can bite people.