Insect Taxonomic Diversity By: Lorenzo Bonner

Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Anthropoda, Class Insecta, Order… Ephemeroptera Coleoptera Odonata Lepidoptera Blattaria Diptera Isoptera Siphonaptera Dermaptera Hymenoptera Orthoptera Mantodea Phasmida Plecoptera Hemiptera

Ephemeroptera (Mayflies) They are the only insects to have two flying stages, and can be recognized by their three caudal filaments (tails) at the tip of the abdomen, and a single claw on each leg.

Odonata (Dragonfly, Damselfly) Minute antennae, extremely large eyes (filling most of the head), two pairs of transparent membranous wings with many small veins, a long slender abdomen, and a prehensile labium (extendible jaws underneath the head).

Blattaria (Cockroach) Long antennae and brain located in body not head.

Isoptera (Termites) Pale, elongate body 2 pairs of membranous wings of equal length. Wings are present in reproductive castes only and shed after mating

Dermaptera (Earwigs) Flattened elongated body Heavily sclerotized pincer-like cerci. Females have straight cerci with a inward pointing tip and males have curved cerci. 2 pairs of wings. The forewings are short and protectively hardened. The hind wings are membranous and folded in a fan-like way underneath the forewings when not in use. Some species are also wingless

Orthoptera (crickets, grasshoppers, katydids…) These insects are instantly recognizable by their long hind legs, which are modified for jumping. Most orthopterans can generate noise by rubbing special organs together on their legs or on their wings, a habit known as stridulation

Phasmida (Walking Stick) look like sticks or leaves Phasmida (Walking Stick) look like sticks or leaves. Some forms are apterous (winged) though often only the male flies.

Hemiptera (True Bugs) Hemiptera means "half wing" and refers to the fact that part of the first pair of wings is toughened and hard, while the rest of the first pair and the second pair are membranous

Coleoptera (Beetles) The name Coleoptera, derived from the Greek words "koleos" meaning sheath and "ptera" meaning wings, refers to the modified front wings which serve as protective covers for the membranous hind wings.

Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths) Outer body is covered by tiny sensory hairs and the wings are covered by scales. The pair of antennae are clubbed. Paired proboscis, which is used to suck nectar from flowers.

Diptera (files, mosquitos, gnats, midges, and no-see-ums) The name means "two wings," and true flies bear only one pair of functional wings. The reduced remnants of the second pair of wings are known as halteres, and seem to function as stabilizers or as airspeed detectors. Dipterans also have large eyes, and may have either long antennae (Nematocera) or short antennae (Brachycera).

Siphonaptera (Fleas) They are wingless, with mouthparts adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood

Hymenoptera These insects have developed regimented social systems in which members are divided into worker, drone, and queen castes. Hymenopterans include important pollinators of flowering plants.

Mantodea The English common name for any species in the order is "praying mantis" , because of the typical "prayer-like" attitude with folded fore-limbs, although the eggcorn "preying mantis" is sometimes used in reference to their predatory habits

Plecoptera Adult stoneflies are always found near freshwater as they have aquatic larvae and as adults they are not powerful fliers. They therefore have poor dispersal capabilities are rarely move far from the place they were born.

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