Types of head or orientation of Head

According to the position or projection of mouth parts, the head of the insect can be classified as:

A) Hypognathous (Hypo – Below: Gnathous – Jaw):

• The head remain vertical and is at right angle to the long axis of the body and mouth parts are ventrally placed and projected downwards.
• This is also known as Orthopteroid type. Eg: Grasshopper, Cockroach.

B) Prognathous: (Pro – infront: Gnathous – Jaw):

• The head remains in the same axis to body and mouth parts are projected forward.
• This is also known as Coleopteroid type. Eg: beetles.

C) Opisthognathous: (Opistho – behind: Gnathous – Jaw):

• Mouthparts are directed backward and held in between the fore legs. .This is also known as Hemipteroid or Opisthorhynchous type.

• Eg: bugs