The document summarizes the anatomy of an insect's head. It describes the key regions and structures of the head, including the vertex, frons, genae, compound eyes, antennae, and ocelli. It provides detailed descriptions and labeled diagrams of the dorsal, ventral, and lateral views of the head. The summary focuses on identifying the main external structures of the insect head and their locations.

1. HEAD Of INSECT
Publication date : 24.02.2021

2. Basic Zoology and Entomology Practical Class : II
Tusar K. Ghosal
M.Sc. (Special paper: Entomolgy), Ph.D. in Science (Zoology)
Email : drtkghosal@gmail.com
Published : 24th February 2021

3. Head capsule:
It is a sturdy
compartment that
houses the brain,a
mouth opening,
mouthparts
and major
sense organs
namely
antennae,
compound eyes,
and ocelli.
Head of an Insect
Ocelli
Compound eyes
Antennae

4. VERTEX
GENAE
FRONS
Coronal suturee
Frontal sutures
Fronto-genal suture
Epistomal suture
Clypeus
Labrum
Mandible
Ocelli
Antennae
Compound eyes
DORSALVIEWOFTHEHead

5. Head Region
(Dorsal viewor frontside)

6. VERTEX
GENAE
FRONS
Coronal suturee
Frontal sutures
Fronto-genal suture
Fronto-clypeal suture
Clypeus
Labrum
Mandible
Ocelli
Antennae
Compound eyes
HeadRegion
VERTEX :
The top of
the head is
vertex. It is the
uppermost sclerite (dorsal
surface) of the head capsule.
A CORONAL SUTURE
usually runs along the midline of the
vertex and splits into two
FRONTAL SUTURES as it extends
downward across the front of
the head capsule.

7. VERTEX
GENAE
FRONS
Coronal suturee
Frontal sutures
Fronto-genal suture
Fronto-clypeal suture
Clypeus
Labrum
Mandible
Ocelli
Antennae
Compound eyes
FRONS: The front of the face is the frons.
It is the triangular sclerite that
lies between these
FRONTAL SUTURES.
The EPISTOMAL SUTURES
Is a deep groove that
separates the base of the frons from
the clypeus (a (rectangular
sclerite on the
lower front margin of the head capsule).
A pair of compound eyes sockets for two antennae
one or more ocelli (simple eyes) also may be
found on the front, top, or sides of an insect’s
head.
These regions may be highly modified or lost in some groups of insects.
Head Region

8. VERTEX
GENAE
FRONS
Coronal suturee
Frontal sutures
Fronto-genal suture
Fronto-clypeal suture
Clypeus
Labrum
Mandible
Ocelli
Antennae
Compound eyes
HeadRegion
GENA: The side
or cheeks are gena.
The GENAE (“cheeks”) are lateral
sclerites that lie behind
the frontal l sclerite on
each side of the head.
Below each gena there may be another
sclerite, separated from the gena by a
FRONTO-GENAL SUTURE and fronto-clypeal suture.

9. Head Region
(Ventral viewor back side)

10. Near the back
of the head, an
OCCIPITAL
SUTURE
Circumscribes
the head
capsule at
the posterior
margin of the
vertex and
genae. Just
behind the
OCCIPITAL
SUTURE
lie the
OCCIPUT
and POST-
GENAE.
VENTRAL VIEW OR BACK SIDE OF HEAD

11. Head Region
(Lateral viewor side view)

12. .
At the
posterior-
most margin
of the head,
a vestige of the
sixth primitive
segment is
marked by
a faint
POSTOCCIPITAL
SUTURE
and a thin,
band-like sclerite
(the POSTOCCIPUT)
that adjoins
the neck
membrane.
THE INSECT HEAD (lateral or side view)

13. The neck of the insect
is known as cervix.
This is a membranous area that allows
freedom of movement for protraction and retraction of the head.
.The cervical scelerite extends from the posterior portion of
the post-occiput to the prothorax, and it represents
a transitional zone between the head and thorax.
The cervical membrane serve as points of attachment for

14. Orientation of insect head

15. Prognathous

16. Hypognathous

17. Opisthognathous

18. Dedicate to my
Grand father Tarapada Ghosal &
Pannalal Banerjee