Talk:Insect/GA4

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GA Review[edit]

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Reviewer: Iztwoz (talk · contribs) 13:12, 5 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]


The article is very well presented with a lot of earlier improvement by the nominator. Hope to be able to make a few suggestions.--Iztwoz (talk) 13:12, 5 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Many thanks, looking forward to it. Chiswick Chap (talk) 13:43, 5 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]


  • Content - think the internal systems could be mentioned – there are several sections; also an important missing part overall is olfaction Insect olfaction, just pheromones are mentioned.
    • Added.  Done
  • I found one sentence to be a bit clumsy – ....their larvae have gills, while some have aquatic adults... Maybe add 'species' to some insects, first off... Wouldn't all aquatic insects have larval gills ?
    • Edited.  Done
  • Back to link to head – better to link to Insect morphology#Head the page Cephalon states that in insects the use of 'head' is preferred.
    • Updated.  Done
  • Distinguishing features – minor; numerals to prose in captions. Links to cicadas, and shield bugs.
    • Done.  Done
  • Could 'In common parlance' be dropped it's a bit dated and would need separately looking up for many non native-English readers.
    • Done.  Done
  • Think that the sentence....'sometimes confused' could be improved by adding a changed separate sentence that Out of all arthropods only insects have wings.
    • Tweaked.  Done
  • Diversity –
    • Think it would be more helpful to separate the diagram and give it more prominence in a position on the right of the intro text.
      • Well we can try it. I thought it looked a mess so I arranged it neatly in the gallery.
        • Think that looks a lot better
          • OK. It required a "clear" which creates whitespace depending on the window width; this is a last-resort manoeuvre and many editors dislike it.
            • Could the images be resized to overcome this?
              • No.
    • I million to one million. Are four refs needed for the one sentence? The last one seems to well cover it. 'All with 100k to each with 100k'
      • Done.  Done
  • Distribution and habitats
    • Gallery heading ...tropics, desert, and even the sea.
      • Done.  Done
    • Change scorpion fly to Snow flea as per link used.
      • Link is correct. Snow flea usually means a springtail.
Link actually gives snow flea as the common name; there is confusing mix of of use of snow flea on pages. Have made changes to the page.
        • Common names are, ahem, commonly used promiscuously, that's the way of it.
    • Link marine to Halobates.
      • No, too specific, there are hundreds of other species.
    • Add great to diving beetle as per link.
      • Done.  Done
    • ....'similarly they write.. that'.
      • Edited.  Done
    • True bug to Shield bug on caption.
      • In "Diversity", I assume: edited all four captions to give the plural forms of the common names of the four groups (as intended), not the names of the example species illustrated.
        • Understood

Taxonomy[edit]

  • just links, In Early – Aristotle; in Modern – link most unlinked items (including louse), most are repeats in Early but with linked diagram next to it, possibly more helpful to have links here.
    • Done.  Done

Evolutionary history[edit]

  • Maybe give a mention to soil improving effects of insects, between plant mentions.
    • Surely marginal for insect evolution.
  • Match-up use of like descriptions in images: such as moving Carboniferous to end of description as the others, and name species M. monyi., add Early to Cretaceous.
    • Done.  Done

Morphology and physiology[edit]

  • First sentence Insects have a segmented body or An insect has a segmented body; link exoskeleton to Arthropod exoskeleton
    • Done.  Done
  • There is repetition in Three-part body and Segmentation might be better to merge segmentation, or trim from Three-part body.
    • Done.  Done
  • links - link head as previously; relink head capsule now a redirect; link sclerotisation to sclerotin; end of first para ... abdomen contains – redo links – Digestive and excretory structures to Insect morphology#Digestive system, ditto for #Respiratory systems, and #Reproductive system; link cuticle to Arthropod cuticle. ...lightweight material to structure.
    • Done some of this. We can't overlink many times to Insect morphology: even reasonable and limited overlinking attracts unwelcome attention.  Done
  • Suggest splitting hatnotes Insect physiology to Internal section.
    • Done.  Done
  • Internal – Digestive system link caste to Caste#Sociology and entomology; link digestive enzymes; link xylem and phloem add transport to vessels.
    • Done.  Done
  • Reproduction system would link The reproductive system of female insects to Insect reproductive system; link intromittent organ, link aedeagus.
    • Done.  Done
  • Respiratory system – via their tracheae and tracheoles; link gas exchange to Gas exchange#Invertebrates.
    • Done.  Done
  • Circulatory system add hatnote Further|Insect physiology#Circulatory system
    • Done.  Done

Reproduction and development[edit]

  • link univoltine etc to Voltinism maybe uni-voltine etc.
    • Done.  Done
  • Metamorphosis Complete – use a second link to larva using Insect larvae as these insect larvae can be cruciform etc as all these terms are on link; ..there are three types of pupae could link to Pupa#Types.
    • Done.  Done

Senses and communication[edit]

  • Senses and communication hatnote Further|Insect physiology#Sensory organs
    • Added.  Done
  • Light production and vision A few insect families... Collembola families no longer considered insects.
    • Gone.  Done
  • re Senses and communication section — there is no Sensory system section on Internal section, think this needs adding together with info on taste, hygroreception, and olfaction; hatnote re sensory organs could be removed; the section on Chemical communication then need not include olfaction in heading.
    • Separated the two and moved the Sensory systems s/section to the Internal section. The section is already rather long so I've just mentioned other senses in passing.
      • Still think these are important to include however briefly.
        • Mentioned and linked several.
  • The first paragraph - would change organs of perception to linked sensory organs, or to sensory organs involved in communication.
    • Done.  Done
  • Over many kilometres - ref states one mile; cannot find mention of grasshoppers in ref given.
    • Fixed.
      • Grasshoppers still uncited
        • Removed already.
  • link in Insects section to Hearing range link used; would link frequencies and spelt out kilohertz.
    • Linked.  Done
  • last sentences need a tweak - firstly talks of hearing sounds from prey and host, next gives an example of hearing sounds from predator - perhaps just change ‘for example’ to likewise or similarly.
    • Done.  Done
  • link avoid predation to Ultrasonic avoidance; section makes no ref to light - there is section on light and another on sound.
    • Linked.  Done

Light production[edit]

  • Possibly link frequencies and spelt out kilohertz.
    • Linked both.  Done

Sound production[edit]

  • link evasive action to Ultrasonic avoidance; link aposematism and Batesian mimicry.
    • Done.  Done
  • Tweak sentences on jamming rm More recently - use link to Echolocation jamming#Jamming by prey.
    • Done.  Done

Social behaviour[edit]

  • Tweak sentence …different geographic regions - link to Monarch butterfly migration, such as - the overwintering areas of monarch butterflies.
    • Good idea, done.  Done
  • caption changes – link termites to Mound-building termites; add Australia - this type only found there – rm live underground - not always.
    • Linked. The article however states "Mound-building termites are a group of termite species that live in mounds which are made of a combination of soil, termite saliva and dung. These termites live in Africa, Australia and South America."
      • Cathedral termites build these mounds in Australia

Care of young[edit]

  • Add linked Worker policing to first sentence possibly to insects …….provide food for offspring full-time, and also take part in Worker policing. (might be better in Social behaviour)
    • Yes, added up there.  Done

Locomotion[edit]

Flight[edit]

  • Would either add hatnote Insect wing#Hypotheses or add into section; Think this section needs attention – most of the content is unclear info about flight evolution – it is very clearly laid out in mentioned hatnote; there is no real info about insect flight – such as types of flight Direct and Indirect, and models of aerodynamics. (sections on Insect flight)
    • Done.  Done
  • hoverflies in caption needs a hyphen
    • Normally written without
      • Entry page needs changing
        • Fixed over there (not part of GAN).

Walking[edit]

  • Walking#Insects would be a more helpful hatnote.
    • Changed.  Done
  • link tripod gait; link wave gait to Walking#Insects
    • Done.  Done
  • Maybe move cockroaches and running to end of para
    • Probably best to leave the water walkers to the end.
  • Water striders sentence ?
    • Fixed.  Done

Swimming[edit]

  • link backswimmer in caption
    • Done.  Done
  • redo some have aquatic adults as previously
    • Edited.  Done
  • link pydigial – maybe explain a little or just link Pydigium#Insects
    • Done.  Done
  • would include surfactant and change to Marigoni effect – propulsion sounds a bit more forceful
    • It certainly propels them (remarkably quickly, too). OK.  Done

Ecology[edit]

  • link Insect morphology; trim to just – insects play many important roles
    • edited.  Done
  • Sentence on beetles not supported by ref (only some beetles are scavengers)
    • Edited, added examples and refs.  Done

ref used only refers to Dung beetles – could include these in earlier info using same ref.

    • Done.  Done

Defense[edit]

  • link nymph in caption; rm second link camouflage; reposition to weevil and leaf beetle.
    • Done.  Done
  • link defence strategies to Defense in insects
    • Linked.
  • Camouflage is an important (could add linked Crypsis|cryptic) defense strategy; link camouflage to Defense in insects#Hiding.
    • Done.  Done
  • Would either link Phasmids or use Stick insects.
    • Done.  Done
  • Could avoid use of non-linked family Palophus Centaurus by linking to subfamily Palophinae
    • Removed to trim paragraph down a bit.  Done
  • Could link unlinked Bostra scabrinota to Phasmatodea#Anti-predatory adaptations
    • Removed. OK.  Done
  • link mantises
    • Removed. OK.  Done
  • change feign death link to Tonic immobility
    • Removed as above. OK  Done
  • 'Taxa from the toxic genus Heliconius...' only some species are toxic.
    • Edited.  Done
  • link Chemical defense to page section Terrestrial arthropods
    • Linked.  Done
  • Use local links to Coleoptera and Lepidoptera
    • We don't do this. OK
  • 'obtain their toxicity (add as caterpillars) from...'; link toxicity to Caterpillar#Chemical defences; add comma after 'from the plants they eat'
    • Edited.  Done

Relationship to humans[edit]

As pests[edit]

  • change ...'parasites such as mosquitoes' ? to such as mosquitoes that act as vectors of diseases (link mosquito-borne disease)
    • Done.  Done
  • change caption as above
    • Done.  Done

In beneficial roles[edit]

  • link pollination
    • Linked.  Done
  • 'Ants may help control animal population by consuming small vertebrates' – a bit of a stretch – ref used refers to one large trap-jaw ant that may eat semiterrestrial tadpoles. Hardly animal population control. imo.
    • Removed.  Done
  • link in Maggot therapy
    • Linked.  Done

In research[edit]

  • simpler - ...genetics of eukaryotes, including genetic linkage etc
    • Edited.  Done
  • link human genome, evolutionary theory
    • Done.  Done

In other products[edit]

  • black soldier fly linked twice
    • Fixed.  Done

In religion and folklore[edit]

  • link to Shamanism and zen
    • Done.  Done

Nearly there[edit]

  • there are a few things overlooked (on my part)
  • the file sea skater in Diversity gives the genus name, the others name the species.
    • The image isn't identifiable to species, nor I think does this matter in an article about the entire Insect class.
  • I think the file does give the name
    • No, it says "Halobates sp. (Heteroptera: Gerridae)" which names the genus, the suborder, and the family respectively.
  • in Incomplete - the stages between molts are known as instars not nymphs; caption too needs change; think the section would be better presented if the first lines included the three stages - as in the next section that mentions the four stages.
    • Linked Instar; "nymphs" is a well-established usage both scientifically and colloquially. I don't find the caption wrong in any way, but have change it in the interest of harmony. Added to the first sentence.  Done
  • there are a few mentions of 'recently'.....
    • One is about the Cenozoic as compared to the much more distant Triassic, surely geologically unexceptionable. Two others said "More recently", the comparative certainly true, a neutral way of leading from one item to another within a topic: I've removed one of them to avoid repetition. I've removed the one and only naked "recently" as unhelpful, along with an associated "also".  Done
  • Finally, disagree with the description of the mosquito as a parasite - the parasites are the plasmodium species - the mosquito is the vector - if it was a parasite it would need the blood for its own nutrition but it only needs it for its eggs ?
    • The female mosquito is certainly an ectoparasite, a well-recognised form of parasitism shared by such parasitic animals as lice, fleas, and ticks. Here's a random example of this long-established usage.
      • That example is from 2009. Ectoparasites like the flea the louse and the tick live on the body, the mosquito does not. Most sources now refer to the mosquito simply as the vector; and use of ectoparasite is only sometimes broadly used as it goes against the definition of an ectoparasite; CDC gives a good outline of mosquito and malaria as does a book (viewable online) Saving Lives, Buying Time chapter 6 The Parasite, the Mosquito and the Disease. Also in the section it states 'many parasites such as mosquitoes...' out of 3,500 species of mosquito not that many are vectors of plasmodium; other mosquito vectors that transmit viral parasites – Aedes and Culex species are never referred to as parasitic only as vectors. Finally (really) neither page Malaria or Mosquito refers to a parasitic mosquito and the same file used on Malaria just says vector. But am happy to leave as is.
        • I've removed it for harmony.