2007 STATE - 2008 DISTRICT FFA ENTOMOLOGY CONTEST EXAM

1. Entomology is a branch of botany that deals with the study of insects.

a. True
b. False

2. Insects are the dominant life form on earth in terms of number of species.

a. True
b. False

3. The number of dragonfly species outnumbers all the kinds of plants on earth.

a. True
b. False

4. Bugs are only one of the many different groups of insects.

a. True
b. False

5. Arthropoda literally means jointed foot.

a. True
b. False

6. Insects are the only animals that have three pairs of legs.

a. True
b. False

7. Insect legs are all attached to the thorax.

a. True
b. False

8. Wings are a sure indicator that an arthropod belongs to the class Insecta.

a. True
b. False

9. Most insects have a life span that lasts two years.

a. True
b. False

2008. The Curators of the University of Missouri. 1

10. All arthropods have an exoskeleton made of cerci.

a. True
b. False

11. The exoskeleton is not very water resistant.

a. True
b. False

12. The weight of the exoskeleton is the reason why most arthropods are small.

a. True
b. False

13. Classification and nomenclature are two divisions of the science of taxonomy.

a. True
b. False

14. A splitter is a scientist who creates relatively few subdivisions when classifying
organisms.

a. True
b. False

15. Carolus Linneaus introduced the two-word system of naming organisms.

a. True
b. False

16. All scientific names are in Latin.

a. True
b. False

17. Plates on the exoskeleton are called spiracles.

a. True
b. False

18. The mesonotum is found on the abdomen.

a. True
b. False

2008. The Curators of the University of Missouri. 2

19. The thorax is divided into three segments.

a. True
b. False

20. Insect wings are always attached to the mesothorax.

a. True
b. False

21. The typical insect abdomen has 10 segments.

a. True
b. False

22. Sclerites are openings for breathing on the side of the insects abdomen.

a. True
b. False

23. Anterior spiracles inhale and posterior spiracles exhale.

a. True
b. False

24. The insect circulatory system works independent of their respiratory system.

a. True
b. False

25. Insect blood enters their heart at the front and leaves toward the back.

a. True
b. False

26. Which of the following is NOT one of the main regions of the insect digestive system?

a. foregut
b. midgut
c. stomach
d. hindgut
e. none of the choices is correct

2008. The Curators of the University of Missouri. 3

27. The most common type of insect mouthparts are

a. sucking.
b. chewing.
c. sponging.
d. none of the choices is correct.

28. The mouthpart that is adapted for cutting, crushing, and grinding is the

a. mandible.
b. maxilla.
c. labium.
d. none of the choices is correct.

29. The mouthpart adapted for touching and tasting potential food is the

a. labrum.
b. labium.
c. mandible.
d. palps.
e. none of the choices is correct.

30. Which of the following insect groups does NOT have chewing mouthparts?

a. dragonflies
b. grasshoppers
c. mosquitoes
d. bees
e. none of the choices is correct

31. The sucking mouthpart adapted to do the actual piercing of tissue is the

a. labrum.
b. stylet.
c. labium.
d. none of the choices is correct.

32. Which of these flying insects does NOT have two pairs of wings?

a. housefly
b. ladybug
c. wasp
d. butterfly
e. none of the choices is correct

2008. The Curators of the University of Missouri. 4

33. The muscles responsible for moving an insects wings up and down are called

a. direct flight muscles.

b. indirect flight muscles.
c. pectoral muscles.
d. exoskeletal muscles.
e. none of the choices is correct.

34. What type of metamorphosis has a larval stage?

a. hemimetabolous
b. ametabolous
c. holometabolous
d. none of the choices is correct

35. Incomplete metamorphosis is also called

a. hemimetabolous.
b. ametabolous.
c. holometabolous.
d. none of the choices is correct.

36. Which type of metamorphosis has a pupal stage?

a. hemimetabolous
b. ametabolous
c. holometabolous
d. none of the choices is correct

37. When the exoskeleton of the last larval stage surrounds and protects the pupa, this skin
is called a

a. cocoon.
b. puparium.
c. instar.
d. none of the choices is correct.

38. Which of the following types of light is invisible to insects?

a. ultraviolet
b. infrared
c. white
d. yellow
e. all of the choices are correct

2008. The Curators of the University of Missouri. 5

39. Insects usually have one to three simple eyes called

a. ocelli.
b. rhabdomes.
c. setae.
d. none of the choices is correct.

40. Insects smell using their

a. feet.
b. antennae.
c. setae.
d. ocelli.
e. none of the choices is correct.

41. The immediate response of an insect to stimuli in its surroundings is called

a. adaptation.
b. evolution.
c. instinct.
d. behavior.
e. none of the choices is correct.

42. What kind of behavior is normally engaged in by males and is used to attract a female
mate?

a. defense
b. grooming
c. copulation
d. courtship
e. none of the choices is correct

43. The mutual exchange of food and other desirable substances between members of a
social insect colony is called

a. sharing.
b. trophallaxis.
c. cooperation.
d. heterotrophis.
e. none of the choices is correct.

2008. The Curators of the University of Missouri. 6

44. In social bees and wasps, unfertilized eggs become

a. females.
b. males.
c. workers.
d. queens.
e. none of the choices is correct.

45. What determines whether new wasp and bee larvae become workers or queens?

a. pheromones
b. food
c. gender
d. none of the choices is correct

46. Which of these insects transmits African sleeping sickness?

a. body lice
b. tiger mosquito
c. human flea
d. tsetse fly
e. none of the choices is correct

47. Which of these insects transmits bubonic plague?

a. body lice
b. tiger mosquito
c. human flea
d. tsetse fly
e. none of the choices is correct

48. Which of these insects transmits yellow fever?

a. body lice
b. tiger mosquito
c. human flea
d. tsetse fly
e. none of the choices is correct

49. Which of the following tools is used for capturing flying insects out of the air?

a. beating tray
b. pitfall trap
c. aerial net
d. berlese funnel
e. none of the choices is correct

2008. The Curators of the University of Missouri. 7

50. Which of these tools is used for capturing insects from debris on the ground?

a. beating tray
b. pitfall trap
c. aerial net
d. berlese funnel
e. none of the choices is correct

51. Which of the following is NOT commonly used by entomologists as a killing agent or
preservative for insects?

a. potassium cyanide
b. ethyl acetate
c. acetone
d. pyrethroid
e. none of the choices is correct

52. Which of these sizes of insect pins is the largest?

a. No. 1
b. No. 2
c. No. 3

53. Which of the following is NOT pinned vertically through the right side of the thorax
between the bases of the front wings?

a. butterfly
b. bee
c. fly
d. beetle
e. none of the choices is correct

54. Wide-bodied insects less than 6mm long should be mounted on

a. a pinning block.
b. a cardboard point.
c. a spreading board.
d. white glue.
e. none of the choices is correct.

55. Soft-bodied insects are commonly preserved

a. on microscope slides.
b. in alcohol vials.
c. on cardboard points.
d. none of the choices is correct.

2008. The Curators of the University of Missouri. 8

56. Which of the following pieces of information is NOT included on the specimen label?

a. state
b. county
c. nearest town
d. collectors name
e. none of the choices is correct

57. Which of the following formats shows the proper way to display the date on an insect
specimen label?

a. 3/4/91
b. 3/4/1991
c. 4 Mar 1991
d. March 4, 1991
e. none of the choices is correct

58. Which of the following pests will feed on dry insect specimens in your collection if you
do not protect them?

a. dermestid beetles
b. dermestid flies
c. carpenter ants
d. mealworms
e. none of the choices is correct

59. Camera lenses with a fixed focal length of less than 50 mm are called

a. wide angle.
b. telephoto.
c. zoom.
d. macro.
e. none of the choices is correct.

60. The best lens to use when taking close-up photographs of small insects would be

a. wide angle.
b. telephoto.
c. zoom.
d. macro.
e. none of the choices is correct.

2008. The Curators of the University of Missouri. 9

61. What is the most valuable learning tool when you are collecting insects in the field?

a. camera
b. field notebook
c. insect net
d. killing jar
e. none of the choices is correct

62. What is the name for an immature insect that is aquatic and bears little resemblance to
the adult stage?

a. nymph
b. naiad
c. larva
d. pupa
e. none of the choices is correct

63. What is the name for the empty exoskeleton or cast skin left behind when the next stage
emerges?

a. ghost
b. shell
c. naiad
d. exuvium
e. none of the choices is correct

64. Tympanic organs in insects are used for

a. seeing.
b. hearing.
c. touching.
d. smelling.
e. none of the choices is correct.

65. In which of these groups do most of the species have special glands that secrete a
substance with a disagreeable odor to repulse enemies?

a. butterflies
b. beetles
c. grasshoppers
d. true bugs
e. none of the choices is correct

2008. The Curators of the University of Missouri. 10

66. Which of the following groups undergoes hemimetabolous development?

a. flies
b. grasshoppers
c. butterflies
d. antlions
e. none of the choices is correct

67. The dorsal surface of the thorax is called the

a. notum.
b. pleuron.
c. sternum.
d. back.
e. none of the choices is correct.

68. Honeydew is made by which of these insect groups?

a. bees
b. bugs
c. beetles
d. caterpillars
e. none of the choices is correct

69. Prolegs are found on which of these insects?

a. bees
b. bugs
c. beetles
d. caterpillars
e. none of the choices is correct

70. The hair-like sensory structures that are adapted to detect touch, smell, taste, or sound
are called

a. setae.
b. sclerites.
c. spiracles.
d. trochanters.
e. none of the choices is correct.

2008. The Curators of the University of Missouri. 11

71. Which of these insects does NOT belong to the Order Hymenoptera?

a. sawflies
b. horntails
c. velvet ants
d. mosquitoes
e. all of the choices are correct

72. Which of the following does NOT belong to the Order Hemiptera?

a. seed bugs
b. clubtails
c. backswimmers
d. assassin bugs
e. all of the choices are correct

73. Which of the following does NOT belong to the order Diptera?

a. whiteflies
b. sawflies
c. dragonflies
d. fireflies
e. all of the choices are correct

74. Which of the following groups constitutes about 40 percent of all known insects?

a. flies
b. beetles
c. bugs
d. grasshoppers
e. none of the choices is correct

75. Which of these is the largest family of true bugs (Hemiptera)?

a. assassin bugs
b. seed bugs
c. leaf-footed bugs
d. plant bugs
e. none of the choices is correct

2008. The Curators of the University of Missouri. 12

 2008. The Curators of the University of Missouri. 13