Grooming Techniques Flashcards

Which structure do flies primarily use to clean their compound eyes during grooming?

Answer: Tarsal combs on the forelegs

Flies use specialized tarsal combs on their forelegs to sweep debris from their compound eyes.

In social Hymenoptera, allogrooming primarily serves to remove which type of threat from nestmates?

Answer: Ectoparasites and fungal spores

Allogrooming in ants and bees removes ectoparasites and pathogenic fungal spores, functioning as a colony-level immune defense.

How does insect autogrooming behavior affect the efficacy of contact insecticides applied as residual sprays?

Answer: It increases ingestion of insecticide from contaminated appendages

When insects groom after walking through residual sprays, they ingest toxicant from their tarsi, increasing oral exposure and efficacy.

The Varroa destructor mite primarily survives on honey bees by evading which defense?

Answer: Hygienic grooming behavior

Varroa mites exploit gaps in honey bee hygienic and allogrooming behavior, surviving in capped brood cells where grooming cannot reach.

Which ant species is known for applying antimicrobial secretions to nestmates during grooming, specifically from metapleural glands?

Answer: Most formicine and myrmicine ants

Most ant subfamilies possess metapleural glands that secrete antimicrobials distributed during allogrooming.

When applying dust insecticides for cockroach control, the goal is to exploit which grooming behavior?

Answer: Autogrooming that deposits dust particles into the mouth

Cockroaches auto-groom their antennae and tarsi, ingesting dust particles and receiving a lethal oral dose of insecticide.

Termite allogrooming is a critical concern for which pest management strategy because grooming distributes active ingredient throughout the colony?

Answer: Slow-acting bait toxicants

Slow-acting baits rely on trophallaxis and allogrooming to spread the toxicant to reproductives before workers are aware of danger.