Essential Question: How do scientists capture, identify, & classify Insects? Standard: (8B) The student will categorize organisms using a hierarchical classification system based on similarities and differences shared among groups.
Characteristics, Orders, and Collecting World of Insects Characteristics, Orders, and Collecting
What You Should Know About Insects …
Taxonomy Kingdom – Animalia Phylum – Arthropoda Class - Insecta
Insects Are Arthropods Insects are the largest group of Arthropods Jointed appendages (bendable) Segmented bodies Exoskeleton of Chitin that must be molted to grow Related to spiders, ticks, scorpions, millipedes, crustaceans
MAIN CHARACTERISTICS Three body regions – head, thorax, and abdomen One pair antenna (head) Six legs or 3 pairs (thorax) One-two pairs of wings (thorax)
There are ALWAYS SIX legs, and they are attached to the THORAX Count the Legs! There are ALWAYS SIX legs, and they are attached to the THORAX
Antenna One Pair on head Jointed Sensory (smell) Called “feelers” Filiform most common shape (segments = size) May be modified FILIFORM
Antenna Modifications
Wings or No Wings Most adults have 2 pairs Called forewings and hindwings Some insects are wingless (silverfish, fleas, some termites and ants)
A network of Veins strengthens wings MEMBRANEOUS (clear) WINGS More on Wings A network of Veins strengthens wings MEMBRANEOUS (clear) WINGS
Some Wings Are Covered With Powdery Scales BUTTERFLIES & MOTHS
Wings May Be Modified Order Diptera (flies) 2nd pair of wings modified into HALTERES Used for balance Makes flies hard to catch!
Beetle Wings Meet in straight line down the abdomen ELYTRA Hard Forewing called Elytra Meet in straight line down the abdomen Membranous hindwings folded underneath (flight)
CHANGE IN FORM FROM EGG TO ADULT Metamorphosis CHANGE IN FORM FROM EGG TO ADULT
INCOMPLETE METAMORPHOUS Insects change shape gradually!
Complete Metamorphosis Four stages that all look different
Amorphic Insects Silverfish Springtails
Insects with Complete Metamorphosis EGG LARVA PUPA ADULT Coleoptera (beetles) Hymenoptera (bees, ants, wasps) Diptera (flies) Lepidoptera (butterflies)
Insects with Incomplete Metamorphosis EGG NYMPH ADULT Siphonaptera (fleas) Isoptera (termites) Orthoptera (grasshoppers & crickets) Hemiptera (true bugs) Homoptera (cicadas & hoppers) Wings NOT fully developed
CIRCLE THE INSECTS
INSECT ORDERS INSECTS WITH WINGS
Why Can’t I Call All of Them Bugs? EVERY BUG is an insect, but NOT ALL INSECTS are bugs! True BUGS are in the Order HEMIPTERA Posterior thorax is triangular; called SCUTELLUM Last 3rd of wing CLEAR
Which of these are BUGS? ALL
More Hemipterans Assassin Bug Water Boatman Giant Water Bug Leaf Hopper
Coleoptera Called beetles Tough exoskeleton Forewings called Elytra Fly with membranous hindwings Larva called grubs Cucumber beetle Ladybird beetle Rhinoceros beetle
Ephemeroptera Called Mayflies Juveniles are aquatic; called naiads Adults found near water & don’t feed Adults reproduce & die in 24 hours Soft bodies with 2 long Ceri (tail fibers) ADULT NAIAD
Diptera Contains mosquitoes & flies One pair functional wings Club-shaped halteres for balance Bodies often hairy Green Bottle fly Hover Fly Fruit Fly Aedes Mosquito
EARWIG EATING CATERPILLAR Dermaptera Called earwigs Long, flat bodies Forceps (pincers) on end of abdomen Short, hard forewings (membranous wings folded underneath Large jaws (mandibles) on head PINCERS EARWIG EATING CATERPILLAR
Orthoptera Grasshoppers, locusts, crickets, katydids Very long bodies Rear legs modified for jumping Females with egg laying tube (ovipositor on end of abdomen) Often communicate with chirping sounds
Lepidoptera Moths, butterflies, & skippers Siphoning mouthparts coiled under head Powdery scales on wings Butterflies fold wings flat above body at rest Moths are night active Important plant pollinators
Isoptera Termites Live in colonies Feed on wood Soft bodies & short antenna Castes – workers, soldiers, kings, and queen
Homoptera Cicadas, leaf hoppers, wingless aphids If wings present, held roof like over body & membranous Piercing-sucking mouthparts Cicada Leafhopper
Odonata Dragonflies & damselflies Dragonflies hold clear wings spread perpendicular to body at rest Damselflies hold clear wings together over abdomen
Hymenoptera Bees, ants, wasps Narrow waist connects thorax & abdomen Abdomen curved downward May have stinger on end of abdomen Carpenter bee Red ant Yellow jacket
INSECT ORDERS WINGLESS INSECTS
Thysanura Called Silverfish Found around houses or outside under stones or wood Fast runners Damage books Secretive and active at night. Flat, long bodies Long antennae Three, long, tail like appendages
Siphonaptera Fleas Ectoparasites Bodies laterally compressed Enlarged hind jumping legs Very short antenna
Anoplura Sucking lice Parasites of mammals Very small Head and body lice are examples Attracted to children’s fine hair Carry disease
Mallophaga Biting lice External parasites on birds & mammals Broad head & flattened body Feed on dead skin, feathers, and fur
CHANGE IN FORM FROM EGG TO ADULT Metamorphosis CHANGE IN FORM FROM EGG TO ADULT
INCOMPLETE METAMORPHOUS Insects change shape gradually!
Complete Metamorphosis Four stages that all look different
Amorphic Insects Silverfish Springtails
Insects with Complete Metamorphosis EGG LARVA PUPA ADULT Coleoptera (beetles) Hymenoptera (bees, ants, wasps) Diptera (flies) Lepidoptera (butterflies)
Insects with Incomplete Metamorphosis EGG NYMPH ADULT Siphonaptera (fleas) Isoptera (termites) Orthoptera (grasshoppers & crickets) Hemiptera (true bugs) Homoptera (cicadas & hoppers) Wings NOT fully developed
Collecting Equipment Aerial net for butterflies,dragonflies. Light-weight pieces; don’t snag net---it tears! DON’T drag your net on the ground www.bioquip.com
Collecting Equipment Use insect behavior to your benefit when working with sweep nets or aerial nets. Once disturbed, most insects will run or fly UP as soon as you stop swinging the net. Block their escape by flipping the long ‘tail’ of the bag over the rim. Now, reach for your jar. ‘Tail’ Rim
Collecting Equipment Sweeping just above plants, especially those in bloom, might net insects flying away from you. Use medium to long strokes, flipping the end of the bag over the rim when finished. This technique may work with tall plants, too.
Collecting Equipment Sweeping usually will catch a variety of insects. Avoid being stung by agitated bees and wasps by quickly opening your net to release them---then flipping the bag over the rim again to keep other insects for sorting. Uga5359069 HF Schwartz, CO State Univ, Bugwood.org
CAUTION!!! Poison Ivy Leaves of 3, let it be.
Collecting Equipment Kill Jar Cotton balls Ethyl acetate Cardboard with holes in it Lid WITHOUT holes Be careful: Don’t drop the jar, glass will break Only open the jar to add an insect Don’t smell the fumes. Try to keep butterflies/moths in their own jar
Beetle Pinning Example Pin Position---to the right of center . Diptera Hymenoptera Coleoptera For larger specimens! Hemiptera Orthoptera Dermaptera Lepidoptera Beetle Pinning Example Odonata Hemiptera
Pointing Small, Delicate Insects We’ll just use a small piece of notecard Point in place on insect pin
Pinning Insect Video Pointing Insects glue Use pinning block to pin the point first. Bend the very tip of the point down, dot with glue. Glue point to insect’s right side. Again, this works BEST if the insect is fresh or softened/’relaxed’. Use Elmer’s Glue---effective, non-toxic, water soluble This technique is used for insects too small or delicate to pin directly Pinning Insect Video
Butterfly Pinning Example Spreading Lepidoptera
Collecting Equipment Plan B: Skip ethyl acetate, put your DRY specimens into small containers or ziplock bags (don’t crush) and place them in the freezer over night; thaw briefly & pin
Traps, Trapping…if you’re having trouble and need to work at home REMEMBER: Safety is of the utmost importance!!
Traps, Trapping Porch or Security Lights? Catch insects coming to the light at night or before dawn (avoid ‘Bug Lights’) Beat the birds to your catch!