The importance of the nervous system to the functional integrity of insects makes it an extremely sensitive target for the action of poisons. It is by no small coincidence that both nature and the pesticide industry have discovered the best way to poison insects (and other animals) is through the nervous system. Of all the natural poisons known, the most lethal are those that act on the nervous system. Additionally, the vast majority of chemical insecticides in use today act upon the insect central nervous system.
The nervous system achieves the three im portant functions of sensation, integration and response. Sensation is the detection of an organism’s environment and gathering of information. Integration is the sorting and evaluation of information. Response is the coordination of not only motor activity, but also secretory activity, as in the case of the neuroendocrine system.
Structure of the Insect Nervous System
The insect central nervous system consists of a brain situated...
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Scharf, M.E. (2008). Neurological Effects of Insecticides and the Insect Nervous System. In: Capinera, J.L. (eds) Encyclopedia of Entomology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6359-6_2202
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