COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF GINGOOG CITY
Don Restituto Baol Central School Complex
Gingoog City
Crop Protection 1
(PRINCIPLES OF ENTOMOLOGY)
Name: _____________________________________ Date Submitted: __________________
Course, Year & Section: _________________________ Rating: _________________________
Insects’ Head
Activity #4
I. Introduction:
Insect head is an Anterior most part of insect body it is hard and highly sclerotized compact structure which
consisting of six segments that are fused to form a head capsule. The insect head consists of mouthparts, compound
eyes, simple eyes (ocelli) and a single pair of antennae. The head segments can be divided in to two regions i.e.
procephalon and gnathocephalon (mouth). Insect head formed by the fusion of six segments that can be divided in to
two regions i.e. procephalon and gnathocephalon (mouth parts).
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). The
uppermost sclerite (dorsal surface) of the head capsule is known as the vertex. 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. The
triangular sclerite that lies between these frontal sutures is called the frons. The epistomal suture is a deep groove that
separates the base of the frons from the clypeus, a rectangular sclerite on the lower front margin of the head capsule.
II. Learning Objectives:
At the end of laboratory period, you should be able to:
1. Identify the different appendages of an insects’ head;
2. Describe the sclerites and suture of an insects’ head;
3. Pinpoint the parts of the insects’ head based on actual specimen.
III. Materials:
Resource Units, Pencil, Bond Paper, Ballpen, internet sources (optional)
IV. Procedures:
1. Scan your resource units or browse in the internet on the features of insects’ head.
2. Read and understand the unique or specific characteristics, details and all other information based on your
readings from your resource units and/or browsing in the internet sources that would describe and help you
answering in the discussions below.
3. Note the different appendages that are attached to the grasshopper’s head based on the figure below. Can you
name what are these and their respective functions?
4. Discuss some question/s based on your understanding.
Activity #4: Insects’ Head Page 1
V. Illustrations
Fig. 2. Frontal View of Insect Head (b)
Fig. 1. Frontal View of Insect Head (a)
Fig.3. Lateral View of Insect Head
VI. Discussions:
1. Describe the following types of insects’ head.
Types Descriptions
Hypognathous
Prognathous
Opisthognathous
Activity #4: Insects’ Head Page 2
2. The sclerites of the head
Sclerites Descriptions
Vertex
Frons
Genae
Clypeus
Labrum
3. The sutures of the head
Sutures Descriptions
Epistomal suture
Subgenal suture
Frontogenal suture
Occipital suture
VII. References:
Patel, Yogesh (No Date). Fundamental of Entomology. College of Agriculture, Ganj Basoda
Salatan, Elvira T. (2003). Resource Units in Crop Protection 3 (Principles of Entomology). Institute of Agriculture.
Misamis Oriental State College of Agriculture and Technology (Now USTP-Claveria). Claveria, Misamis Oriental
https://www.earthlife.net/insects/anat-head.html
https://quizlet.com/329936358/insect-morphology-head-diagram/
http://www.jnkvv.org/PDF/0704202020123064201202.pdf
https://projects.ncsu.edu/cals/course/ent425/library/tutorials/external_anatomy/head.html
Activity #4: Insects’ Head Page 3
