NEOPTERA = exopterygotes and Endopterygota Plecoptera = Stoneflies (plectos = pleated; pteron = a wing) Wings fold over back =Neoptera Aquatic larvae Often used as bio-indicators for stream pollution = outside and inside wings Blattodea = Cockroaches (blatta = cockroach) Flattened body Front wings toughened as protective cover hind wings Eggs often laid in toughened ootheca Only about 40 species (1%) of cockroach are considered pests. Isoptera = Termites (iso = equal, like; pteron = a wing) Social insects with different castes Symbionts convert wood etc to nutrients Orthoptera = grasshoppers, crickets, katydids (orthos = straight; pteron = a wing) Known species = 20,000 Hind legs for jumping Sound production using hind legs or front wings Orthoptera = grasshoppers, crickets, katydids (orthos = straight; pteron = a wing) Swarms of the migratory grasshoppers can number in the billions, causing severe crop damage along the way. 1
Mantodea = Mantids (mantis = diviner, prophet) Mobile triangular head Raptorial front legs Eggs laid in papery, foam-like egg cases (ootheca) Phasmatodea = stick and leaf insects (phasma = apparition, spectre) Slow-moving, herbivorous Leaf-like or stick-like body Eggs often ant-dispersed Dermaptera = Earwigs (dermatos = skin; pteron = a wing) Forceps-like cerci, male combat Leathery front wings Semicircular hind wings Maternal care common Embioptera = web spinners (embios = lively; pteron = a wing) Gregarious in silk galleries Swollen first tarsal segment containing silk glands Females wingless, males winged Escape behavior is to move backward alternate: Embiidina Hemiptera = bugs, aphids, hoppers (hemi = half; pteron = a wing) Known species = 82,000 Fifth largest order Mouthparts forming a sucking/piercing beak or rostrum Stink glands and sound producing organs sometimes present Hemiptera, 3 suborders 1. Heteroptera = true bugs 2. Auchenorrhyncha = the hoppers 3. Sternorrhyncha = plant lice, whiteflies, aphids, scale insects 2
Hemipterans of note: Oncopeltus fasciatus (milkweed bug) Kerria lacca (lac insect) Magicicada spp. (Periodic cicadas) Dactylopius coccus (cochineal insect) Cimex lectularius (bed bug) Triatoma infestans (Kissing bug) Many others... Phthiraptera = Parasitic lice (phtheiros = louse; a+pteron = wingless) Small, wingless ectoparasites living permanently on vertebrate hosts Legs modified for clinging Psocoptera = barklice and booklice (psokos = gnawed; pteron = a wing) Common on trees, vegetation, and litter Parthenogenesis (females give rise to females) is common Thysanoptera = Thrips (thysanos = fringed; pteron = a wing) hemimetabolous Mainly liquid feeders Hair-fringed wings Some species have maternal care, social behaviors The Endopterygota Neuroptera = Lacewings & antlions Prominent eyes Wing venation complex and net-like 3
Megaloptera Alderflies & Dobsonflies Aquatic larva Adults do not feed Male mandibles used for combat Raphidioptera -Snakeflies Elongated pronotum Ovipositor (females only) Coleoptera = Beetles (koleos = sheath; pteron = a wing) Known species = 370,000 (37.0% of all insect species) Front wings modified as rigid elytra covering hind wings Pronotum large and distinct Coleoptera Four suborders 1. Archostemata (3 primitive families) 2. Myxophaga (aquatic or associated with water) 3. Adephaga (terrestrial and aquatic; mostly predacious) 4. Polyphaga (variable; some 149 families) Strepsiptera = Twisted-winged insects (streptos = twisted; pteron = wing) Endoparasites of insects Sexually dimorphic Adult females typically neotenous (retaining immature features) = no eyes, legs, wings, external genitalia Phylogenetic placement under debate (either with Coleoptera or Diptera) Diptera = Flies, mosquitoes (di = two; pteron = wing) Known species = 122,000 (12.2%) One pair of functional wings Halteres (balancing organs) 4
Diptera = Flies, mosquitoes (di = two; pteron = a wing) Two diverse suborders Nematocera & Brachycera Some families parasitic Dipterans of note: Phaenicia sericata green blow fly (medical use) Aedes aegypti (dengue fever, yellow fever, encephalitis) Culex spp. (Many diseases) Glossina spp. tsetse fly (Sleeping sickness) Anopholes gambia (Malaria): the deadliest insect... Drosophila melanogaster (model organism) Mecoptera = Scorpionflies (mekos = long; pteron = a wing) Distinctive elongated face Mostly in damp wooded areas Males present females with nuptial gifts Siphonaptera = Fleas (siphon = pipe, tube; a+pteron = wingless) Small, wingless ectoparasites on mammals and birds Adults are blood feeders Characteristic jumping ability Trichoptera = Caddisflies (trichos = hair; pteron = a wing) Aquatic larvae, typically in self-constructed cases or shelters, or nets Nocturnal and moth-like Weakly developed mouthparts (nectar feeding) Used as a bio-indicator for stream pollution Lepidoptera = Butterflies, moths (lepidos = scale; pteron = a wing) Distribution = worldwide Known species = 165,000 (16.5%) Entire body and wings covered with overlapping tiny scales Usually have sucking mouthparts Lepidoptera Lepidoptera of note: Manduca sexta (tobacco hornworm) popular experimental animal Lymantria dispar (Gypsy moth) and many pests (Clover Cutworm, Soybean Looper, Corn Earworm, Alfalfa Looper, Celery Looper, Tobacco budworm, Wheat armyworm, Lawn armyworm, etc.) Many gorgeous creatures 5
Hymenoptera = Bees, wasps, ants (hymen = membrane; pteron = a wing) Second largest order: Abundant and ubiquitous Body usually with constricted waist Some species are social Ovipositor may be modified as a stinger Two suborders Symphyta (sawflies), Apocrita (parasitoid group, stinging group. Hymenoptera Insecta includes 3 divisions: Archaeognatha, Thysanura, Pterygota (mandible articulation, wings +/-) Pterygota comprised of 3 divisions: Ephemeroptera, Odonata, and Neoptera (wing folding) Neoptera divided into two basic groups; exopterygote orders and Endopterygota (where wings develop) 6