insect
[in´sekt] any individual of the class Insecta.
insect bites and stings injuries caused by the mouth parts and venom of insects (see also bee sting). Similar conditions are caused by members of the class arachnida, which includes the spiders, scorpions, ticks, and mites; see also spider bite. The most common biting insects are mosquitoes and ants. Bites and stings can be the cause of much discomfort, but there is usually no real danger, unless the individual experiences an allergic or anaphylactic reaction. More commonly, a local infection can develop from scratching the site of the bite. Some insects establish themselves on the skin as parasites, others inject poison, and still others transmit disease. A knowledge of first aid measures for bites and stings can do much to relieve discomfort, prevent infection, and sometimes even save a life.
Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.
insect
(ĭn′sĕkt′)n.1. a. Any of numerous arthropod animals of the class Insecta, having an adult stage characterized by three pairs of legs and a body segmented into head, thorax, and abdomen and usually having one or two pairs of wings. Insects include the flies, crickets, mosquitoes, beetles, butterflies, and bees.
b. Any of various other small, chiefly arthropod animals, such as spiders, centipedes, or ticks, usually having many legs. Not in scientific use.
2. An insignificant or contemptible person.
in′sect′ adj.
in′sec·ti′val (ĭn′sĕk-tī′vəl) adj.
The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Fig. 197 Insect . (a) Vertical section, and (b) front view of insect mouthparts.
insect
any small air-breathing arthropod of the class Insecta, containing organisms that normally in the adult have six legs, three distinct regions to the body (head, thorax and abdomen), one pair of antennae and one or two pairs of wings. Mouthparts are often adapted to the method of feeding, such as biting, piercing and sucking. Abdominal appendages are absent except in the more primitive groups such as springtails. Most insects have a distinct juvenile stage, a nymph (see EXOPTERYGOTA or a larva (see ENDOPTERYGOTA). These undergo METAMORPHOSIS to form the adult. Insects comprise about five-sixths of all known animal species. The class contains the following groups:
Subclass: APTERYGOTA (wingless)
Orders: Protura
Collembola - springtails
Diplura - japygids
Thysanura - bristletails
Subclass: PTERYGOTA (normally winged) EXOPTERYGOTA (HETEROMETABOLA or HEMIMETABOLA)
Orders: Odonata - dragonflies
Ephemeroptera - mayflies
Orthoptera - grasshoppers
Dermaptera - earwigs
Plecoptera - stoneflies
Isoptera - termites
Embioptera - embiids
Mallophaga - biting lice
Anoplura - sucking lice
Psocoptera - book lice
Zoraptera
Hemiptera - bugs
Thysanoptera - thrips
ENDOPTERYGOTA (HOLOMETABOLA)
Mecoptera - scorpion flies
Neuroptera - lacewings
Trichoptera - caddisflies
Lepidoptera - butterflies and moths
Diptera - flies
Siphonaptera - fleas
Coleoptera - beetles
Strepsiptera - stylops
Hymenoptera - ants, bees and wasps
The more important insect orders are described under separate headings.
Collins Dictionary of Biology, 3rd ed. © W. G. Hale, V. A. Saunders, J. P. Margham 2005
Patient discussion about insect
Q. an insect bite seems infected and is bleeding... the area under the skin is hard and sore... when pressed it bleeds quite a bit
A. It sounds like you have cellulitis around the area of the bite, and you should see a doctor to decide whether or not this requires antibiotics.
Q. My friend told me that people who allergic to dust are actually allergic to small insect. Is he fooling with me?
A. thanks :)
Q. does mosquito bites considered as an edema a bet with a friend- please help solve an issue an help me win a new I pod :)
A. (don't take the mini i-pod, it sucks). it's true-the mosquito has a number of proteins and materials in his saliva that works as anticoagulants and vasodilators (blood vessel broadening). these causes the bite area to start an immune reaction and one of the consequences is an edema-"an increase of interstitial fluid in any organ", that means fluids are exiting blood system. in this case- not too much...
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