Common Insect Orders Adapted from Berkeley Natural History Museums lesson “A Quick Way to Identify Common Insect Orders”
Insects are the most species-rich group of organisms on earth as indicated in this species-scape. The size of the organism reflects the number of described species.
Parts of an insect
Parts of an insect Abdomen Head Thorax
Parts of an insect Abdomen Head Thorax 3 pairs of legs
Parts of an insect Abdomen Head Thorax 3 pairs of legs Wings and legs on thorax 3 pairs of legs
Important areas to study to identify common insect orders Abdomen Head Thorax 3 pairs of legs
Mouthparts: Chewing mandibles mandibles Just a quick overview of what we mean by mouthparts
Mouthparts: Sucking Coiled Piercing Sponging-sucking Just a quick overview of what we mean by mouthparts Sponging-sucking
Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets, katydids) Greek "ortho" = straight, "ptera" = wing Spot ID Jumping legs parallel-sided structure of front wings
Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets, katydids) Greek “orthos” = straight, “pteros” = wing Orthodontist – person who straightens teeth.
Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets, katydids) Orthodontist – person who straightens teeth.
Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets, katydids) Spot ID Jumping hind legs Orthodontist – person who straightens teeth.
Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets, katydids) Spot ID Jumping hind legs Some with ovipositor at hind end Orthodontist – person who straightens teeth.
Coleoptera (beetles) Greek “koleos”= sheath, “ptero”= wing
Coleoptera (beetles)
Coleoptera (beetles) Spot ID Chewing mouthparts
Coleoptera (beetles) Spot ID Chewing mouthparts Forewings (elytra) form hard shell covering hindwings
Lepidoptera (butterflies, moths) Greek “lepido”= scale, “ptero”= wing
Lepidoptera (butterflies, moths) Greek “lepido”= scale, “ptero”= wing Coiling-sucking mouthparts
Lepidoptera (butterflies, moths) Greek “lepido”= scale, “ptero”= wing Coiling-sucking mouthparts Four wings covered with scales
Diptera (flies) Latin “di”= two, “ptero”= wing
Diptera (flies) Latin “di”= two, “ptero”= wing Spot ID Two wings
Diptera (flies) Latin “di”= two, “ptero”= wing Spot ID Two wings Hind wings reduced to halteres
Diptera (flies) Latin “di”= two, “ptero”= wing Spot ID Two wings Hind wings reduced to halteres Sponging-sucking mouthparts Except mosquitoes and some others that pierce skin
Diptera (flies) Latin “di”= two, “ptero”= wing
Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, ants) Greek “hymen”=membrane, “ptero”=wing or Hymen, the Greek god of marriage because the forewing & hindwings are joined together with small hooks Hooks not shown
Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, ants) Because they are joined together and the hindwings are often small, it can be difficult to tell whether there are four wings.
Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, ants) Spot ID Chewing mouthparts Because they are joined together and the hindwings are often small, it can be difficult to tell whether there are four wings.
Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, ants) Spot ID Chewing mouthparts Four membranous wings Because they are joined together and the hindwings are often small, it can be difficult to tell whether there are four wings.
Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, ants) Spot ID Chewing mouthparts Four membranous wings Waist often constricted Because they are joined together and the hindwings are often small, it can be difficult to tell whether there are four wings.
Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, ants) Spot ID Chewing mouthparts Four membranous wings Waist often constricted Females with ovipositor or stinger at end of abdomen Because they are joined together and the hindwings are often small, it can be difficult to tell whether there are four wings.
Hemiptera (true bugs, also sometimes called Heteroptera) Greek “hemisys” = half, “ptero” = wing
Hemiptera (true bugs) Greek “hemisys” = half, “ptero” = wing Spot ID A beak: piercing-sucking mouthparts
Hemiptera (true bugs) Greek “hemisys” = half, “ptero” = wing Spot ID A beak: piercing-sucking mouthparts Forewings covering hindwings Wing half membrane, half thickened
Homoptera (hoppers, aphids, scales, cicadas) Greek “homo” = uniform, “ptero” = wing Spot ID A beak: piercing-sucking mouthparts Forewings covering hindwings Wings all membranous
Homoptera (hoppers, aphids, scales, cicadas) Greek “homo” = uniform, “ptero” = wing Some entomologists now combine Order Homoptera with Order Hemiptera because the DNA has been found to be similar. In this case, Homoptera would be considered a suborder.
Dermaptera (earwigs) Greek “derma” = skin, “ptero” = wing
Dermaptera (earwigs) Greek “derma” = skin, “ptero” = wing Spot ID Long skin-like hindwings folded under very short forewings
Dermaptera (earwigs) Greek “derma” = skin, “ptero” = wing Spot ID Long skin-like hindwings folded under very short forewings Pinchers off end of abdomen
Odonata (dragonflies, damselflies) Greek “odon” = tooth (referring to teeth on their mandibles) Orthodontist – person who straightens teeth.
Odonata (dragonflies, damselflies) Orthodontist – person who straightens teeth.
Odonata (dragonflies, damselflies) Spot ID Long slender wings Orthodontist – person who straightens teeth.
Odonata (dragonflies, damselflies) Spot ID Long slender wings Long thin body Orthodontist – person who straightens teeth.
Isoptera (termites) Greek "iso" = equal, "ptera" = wings Spot ID Pale, elongate body 2 pairs of membranous wings of equal length only present in reproductives and shed after mating Mandibulate (chewing) mouthparts Antennae about the same length as the head Sometimes now classified with Blattodea because their DNA suggests that they are specialized roaches
Blattodea (roaches) Latin “blatta” = cockroach
Blattodea (roaches)
Blattodea (roaches) Spot ID Flat
Blattodea (roaches) Spot ID Flat Spiny legs
Blattodea (roaches) Also called Blattaria, Greek “Blatta” = cockroach Spot ID Flat Spiny legs Long antennae
Neuroptera (ant lions, lacewings, mantidflies) Greek "neuron" = nerve and "ptera" = wings Spot ID four membranous net-veined wings forewings and hindwings about the same size
Neuroptera (ant lions, lacewings, mantidflies) Greek "neuron" = nerve and "ptera" = wings Spot ID Larvae have elongated mandibles adapted for piercing and sucking Oliver the Owlfly larva is an example Antlion larvae (doodlebugs)
Mantodea (praying mantises) Greek “mantis” = prophet Spot ID two grasping, spiked forelegs often held in “praying” position Triangular, swiveling head with large compound eyes
Phasmatodea (walking stick insects) Also Phasmida, Greek “phasm” = phantom Spot ID cylindrical stick-like body or flattened, leaflike shape long, slender antennae sometimes have wings
Thysanura (silverfish, bristletails) Greek "thysano-" = fringed, "ura" = tail Spot ID three long caudal (tail) filaments Silverfish are so called due to the silvery glitter of the scales covering their bodies flattened bodies, may be elongated or oval in shape
Ephemerida (mayflies) Also Ephemeroptera, Greek "ephemera" =short-lived Spot ID delicate bodies and gauzy, fragile wings two or three long threads (caudal filaments) at end of abdomen Adults have no functional mouthparts
Plecoptera (stoneflies) Greek "pleco" = braided, "ptera" = wing Spot ID complex venation of two pairs of wings, which are membranous and fold flat over the back legs each end in two claws long, multi-segmented antennae
Mecoptera (scorpionflies) Greek “meco-” = long, “ptera” = wings Spot ID abdomen is cylindrical, and typically curves upwards in the male, superficially resembling the tail of a scorpion wings are narrow in shape, with numerous cross-veins
Trichoptera (caddisflies) Greek “trich” = hair, ptera = wing Spot ID small moth-like with two pairs of hairy membranous wings Aquatic larvae, adults usually found near aquatic habitats
Siphonaptera (fleas) Greek "siphon“ = tube or pipe, "aptera" = wingless Spot ID Wingless (adaptation to ectoparasitism) 1-10mm long Mouthparts are sucking and piercing Hind legs are enlarged for jumping Laterally flattened
Thysanoptera (thrips) Greek "thysano-" = fringed, “ptera" = wing Very small insects with a range of 1/32 to 1/8 inch in length Feed on plants, considered crop pest
Some Common Insects