Insects

Author:Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer

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Last updated on: 29.10.2020

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Synonym(s)

Incarcerated animals; Insecta; Kerfe

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DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.

Most species-rich class of arthropods and most species-rich class of all animals. Nearly 1.0 million insect species have been described so far. The word "insect" was transferred from the Latin insectum (from in-secare - to cut). In the figurative sense insect means "incised animal". This term refers to the clearly separated body parts.

Insects play an important role in medicine, especially as disease carriers (e.g. malaria, leishmaniasis), as allergy triggers (e.g. bee or wasp venom allergies) or as parasites.

Within insects, the classical system distinguishes between different numbers of subclasses, superorders and orders.

ClassificationThis section has been translated automatically.

Medically relevant classes and orders are:

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Last updated on: 29.10.2020