PICTURESET 'ZOOLOGY' NO. 827 ON FIRSTBOND (21 PC)

Frontal view of the head of the ca. 2mm long fly, which swarms around ripe fruit in summer. Because of the giant chromosomes that are found in its larva and the frequent occurence of natural mutations, fruit flies are a favorite object of genetic study.

Under strong enlargement the very filigree structure of the scales on butterfly wings is revealed. The scales allow light and radiant heat to penetrate while acting as inward insulation. The longitudinal ribbing of the scales causes the metallic shiser. The roof-shingle-like structure is striking.

The leech is one of the annelids, or segmented worms. They are blood-sucking, external parasites with suckers at both ends. They live in fresh water, and attack both cold-blooded and warm-blooded animals. Medical applications: for varicose veins and rheumatic diseases, and to regulate blood flow in the case of limb grafting (e.g. re-attached fingers). The leech produces the anticoagulant agent hirudin.

Portrait of a third stage larvae. The second of three larval stages of this fly species can be used to treat poorly healing, necrotizing wounds when other treatments fail. This applies in particular to for osteomyelitis, gangrene, ulcers caused by venostasis and mastoiditis. The sterile larvae are placed on the wounds and eliminate rotting, pus-stricken and already dead tissue. The healthy tissue is left completely in peace. The movement of the larvae and their metabolic products cleans the wound and stimulates wound healing. This method has been documented since the Middle Ages and is gaining importance with increasing antibiotic resistance.

L. Destructor is a widespread stock mite. Mites belong to the arachnids and, unlike insects, have 4 pairs of legs. Plum mites grow up to 0.75 mm in size and feed on moulds, flour and rice. They thrive optimally at 25 ºC and high humidity. Also stock mites can be the cause of allergies.

The picture shows the mouth parts of an adult animal, seen from below. Ticks go through 3 stages of development up to the sexually mature animal and have a different host animal (e. g. mouse, rabbit, human or big game) in each phase, with which they suck blood. Dermacentor ticks are often carriers of rickettsia (bacteria) which, when transmitted to humans, cause spotted fever (rickettsiosis), which causes the death of about 70% of those affected.

Fleas are blood-sucking insects. The species found in cats and dogs also occasionally affect humans, but after a few stings they abandon this false host. They can transmit pathogens, e. g.: Rickettsias (bacteria) or tapeworms. The breeding place of cat fleas is usually the sleeping place of the affected cat (dog).

Ticks are blood-sucking mites. Their warm-blooded host animals (such as humans) they take away by shocks and their sense of smell. If a host seams, they drop from grass or bushes onto their victims, look for a warm, thin-skinned spot and drill their mouth parts into the host. The sucking process can take several days, the ticks absorb up to 200 times their body weight in blood. This can lead to the transmission of diseases (piroplasmosis, tick-borne encephalitis, Lyme disease). The picture shows an adult animal with head part in frontal view.

Diese aus Südostasien nach Mitteleuropa eingeschleppte Milbe parasitiert auf Bienen. In ihrer Heimat befällt sie nur Drohnenmaden, in Mitteleuropa jedoch auch die Maden der zukünftigen Arbeiterinnen. Die Varroa-Milbe ist für die Imkerwirtschaft von Bedeutung. Die Bekämpfung der Milben erfolgt durch eine mit Ameisensäure getränkte Pappe, die in den Bienenstock gelegt wird.

Flöhe sind blutsaugende Insekten. Die Männchen des Katzenflohs sind ca. 1mm, die Weibchen 2 bis 3 mm groß. Brutplatz der Katzenflöhe ist meist der Schlafplatz der befallenen Tiere. Dort entwickeln sich die Larven, die sich von organischem Material ernähren. Erst nach der letzten Häutung wechseln sie auf den Wirt, wo sie bis zu drei Monaten leben. Die bei Katzen und Hunden vorkommenden Arten gehen zeitweilig auch auf den Menschen, lassen aber nach einigen Stichen von diesem falschen Wirt ab.

Papilio palinurus belongs to the impressive Swallowtail butterflies or Nymphalidae. The surface of a wing scale displays very fine veins. The inside of this scale is made up of many layers of chitin that have an exactly defined, same distance to each other. If light hits on it, a strong, green iridescence originates from interferen-ces inside the scale.

The eye of a mosquito consists of several dozens of single eyes, attached to each other like honeycomb. Every single eye perceives a small cutting of the whole field of vision, the sensory impressions of the single eyes are processed in the brain to a general view. A mosquito can perceive quick movements much more clearly than a human being (up to 300 pictures/sec, person 60 pictures/sec).

The larvae of green lacewings feed predatory on aphids. They seize the aphids with their mandibles, transformed to big pliers and suck them.

Wie andere Mitglieder der Taufliegen-Familie, ist Drosophila suzukii klein, etwa 2 bis 3,5 mm in der Länge. Die Art gilt in der Landwirtschaft als SchAuml;dling, da sie die reifenden Früchte von Kirschen, Heidelbeeren, Himbeeren, Brombeeren, Pfirsichen, Pflaumen, Nektarinen, Aprikosen, Trauben und anderen schädigt. Durch ihre enorm schnelle Vermehrung können große Schäden verursacht werden. Der kurze Generationszyklus der Kirschessigfliege macht sie zu einem mit heutigen Insektiziden schwer bekämpfbaren Insekt.