1. Common Insect Orders Adapted from Berkeley Natural History Museums lesson “A Quick Way to Identify Common Insect Orders”

2. 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.

3. Parts of an insect

4. Parts of an insect
Abdomen
Head
Thorax

5. Parts of an insect
Abdomen
Head
Thorax
3 pairs of legs

6. Parts of an insect Abdomen Head Thorax 3 pairs of legs
Wings and legs on thorax
3 pairs of legs

7. Important areas to study to identify common insect orders
Abdomen
Head
Thorax
3 pairs of legs

8. Mouthparts: Chewing mandibles mandibles
Just a quick overview of what we mean by mouthparts

9. Mouthparts: Sucking Coiled Piercing Sponging-sucking
Just a quick overview of what we mean by mouthparts
Sponging-sucking

10. Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets, katydids) Greek "ortho" = straight, "ptera" = wing
Spot ID
Jumping legs
parallel-sided structure of front wings

11. Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets, katydids) Greek “orthos” = straight, “pteros” = wing
Orthodontist – person who straightens teeth.

12. Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets, katydids)
Orthodontist – person who straightens teeth.

13. Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets, katydids)
Spot ID
Jumping hind legs
Orthodontist – person who straightens teeth.

14. Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets, katydids)
Spot ID
Jumping hind legs
Some with ovipositor at hind end
Orthodontist – person who straightens teeth.

15. Coleoptera (beetles) Greek “koleos”= sheath, “ptero”= wing

16. Coleoptera (beetles)

17. Coleoptera (beetles)
Spot ID
Chewing mouthparts

18. Coleoptera (beetles) Spot ID Chewing mouthparts
Forewings (elytra) form hard shell covering hindwings

19. Lepidoptera (butterflies, moths) Greek “lepido”= scale, “ptero”= wing

20. Lepidoptera (butterflies, moths) Greek “lepido”= scale, “ptero”= wing
Coiling-sucking mouthparts

21. Lepidoptera (butterflies, moths) Greek “lepido”= scale, “ptero”= wing
Coiling-sucking mouthparts
Four wings covered with scales

22. Diptera (flies) Latin “di”= two, “ptero”= wing

23. Diptera (flies) Latin “di”= two, “ptero”= wing
Spot ID
Two wings

24. Diptera (flies) Latin “di”= two, “ptero”= wing
Spot ID
Two wings
Hind wings reduced to halteres

25. 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

26. Diptera (flies) Latin “di”= two, “ptero”= wing

27. 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

28. 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.

29. 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.

30. 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.

31. 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.

32. 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.

33. Hemiptera (true bugs, also sometimes called Heteroptera) Greek “hemisys” = half, “ptero” = wing

34. Hemiptera (true bugs) Greek “hemisys” = half, “ptero” = wing
Spot ID
A beak: piercing-sucking mouthparts

35. Hemiptera (true bugs) Greek “hemisys” = half, “ptero” = wing
Spot ID
A beak: piercing-sucking mouthparts
Forewings covering hindwings
Wing half membrane, half thickened

36. Homoptera (hoppers, aphids, scales, cicadas) Greek “homo” = uniform, “ptero” = wing
Spot ID
A beak: piercing-sucking mouthparts
Forewings covering hindwings
Wings all membranous

37. 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.

38. Dermaptera (earwigs) Greek “derma” = skin, “ptero” = wing

39. Dermaptera (earwigs) Greek “derma” = skin, “ptero” = wing
Spot ID
Long skin-like hindwings folded under very short forewings

40. Dermaptera (earwigs) Greek “derma” = skin, “ptero” = wing
Spot ID
Long skin-like hindwings folded under very short forewings
Pinchers off end of abdomen

41. Odonata (dragonflies, damselflies)
Greek “odon” = tooth (referring to teeth on their mandibles)
Orthodontist – person who straightens teeth.

42. Odonata (dragonflies, damselflies)
Orthodontist – person who straightens teeth.

43. Odonata (dragonflies, damselflies)
Spot ID
Long slender wings
Orthodontist – person who straightens teeth.

44. Odonata (dragonflies, damselflies)
Spot ID
Long slender wings
Long thin body
Orthodontist – person who straightens teeth.

45. 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

46. Blattodea (roaches) Latin “blatta” = cockroach

47. Blattodea (roaches)

48. Blattodea (roaches)
Spot ID
Flat

49. Blattodea (roaches)
Spot ID
Flat
Spiny legs

50. Blattodea (roaches) Also called Blattaria, Greek “Blatta” = cockroach
Spot ID
Flat
Spiny legs
Long antennae

51. 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

52. 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)

53. Mantodea (praying mantises) Greek “mantis” = prophet
Spot ID
two grasping, spiked forelegs often held in “praying” position
Triangular, swiveling head with large compound eyes

54. 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

55. 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

56. 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

57. 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

58. 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

59. 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

60. 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

61. 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

62. Some Common Insects